16th Annual Wisconsin Science Festival
A 10-day statewide celebration of science with hundreds of events exploring the human experience and scientific discovery.
Wisconsin Science Festival – Photo: Romulo Ueda Have you ever wondered: what makes me human? Explore the many answers to that question at the 2026 Wisconsin Science Festival in a jam-packed 10 days devoted to the science of humans and the humans who do science. With more than 650 events across the state, festival goers will unpack “Us” — the feature for this year’s festival — from the complexity of the human experience to our bodies to our place in the cosmos. Now in its 16th year, the festival has grown from a local 3-day event in Madison to a 10-day art and science showcase in over 55 counties across Wisconsin. As a member of the Science Festival Alliance, the festival continues to serve as a flagship model for engagement and collaboration. “The Wisconsin Science Festival is a celebration of curiosity in action, inviting people of all ages and from every corner of our state to explore, ask questions and discover something new,” says Samantha Mulrooney, director of the Wisconsin Science Festival at the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery. “It’s also a chance to shine a light on the incredible innovative and creative minds who make Wisconsin such a special place.” The festival kicks off with fan-favorite Science on the Square on Thursday, October 15. In collaboration with the Madison Night Market, the event provides hands-on science exploration for all ages interspersed with food trucks, local artisans, and a picturesque view of the Capitol. The fun doesn’t stop there. Through a variety of venues, from lab tours to community talks to nature hikes, the science of Us is sure to make an impact somewhere near you. Some of the extraordinary humans participating in the festival this year include: Forward Madison FC: Get a kick out of Science & Soccer Night at Breese Stevens Field. Genealogist Caron Brennan: Find out the how and why behind DNA testing in genealogical research in Door County. Former scientist and stand-up comedian Sarah Adelman: Blow your mind with the creator of “BLOW MY MIND” at the Rigby Pub. Illusionist Steve Belliveau: Enjoy an afternoon of magic, engineering, and humor that “brings science down to earth” in Westby. Your local librarians: At participating libraries across the state, grab one of over 3,000 take-home science kits brought to you by the popular “Science in a Bag” project , now in its sixth year. A central goal of the Wisconsin Science Festival is to celebrate the powerful intersection of art and science. This idea is especially relevant to Us, as creativity is an integral part of the human experience. Several of this year’s events highlight how this intersection enriches our lives, including a stroll through the John D. Wiley Gallery for Art in Science, an evening of “magic” of glass, bubbles, and flames at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, or the chance to create your own dragonfly or butterfly rain gauge at Hustisford Community Library. So come join us Oct. 15–25 and get curious. With hundreds of events throughout the state, there’s something for all of us! More information
