Norwich Science Festival named the 2026 Festival of the Year!

The Forum is delighted that one of it's Festivals, Norwich Science Festival, has been named the 2026 Festival of the Year (sponsored by Norwich Print Solutions) by the Suffolk & Norfolk Tourism Awards. Coordinated by Visit East of England, the awards recognise the remarkable people and organisations behind the region's tourism success.

The Festival of the Year award was subject to a public vote - meaning Norwich Science Festival has been named by you as your Festival of the Year for 2026!

The award coincides with the tenth anniversary edition of NSF - featuring more than 86,400 total visits (and still counting!) and almost 300 events over eight days during the February half term, platforming Norfolk's world leading science and innovation, and creating significant economic impact for the city, county and region.

Just under half (49%) of the programme in 2026 was either low-cost or completely free to access, with the Festival made possible through fantastic local partnerships - with enormous input from sponsors, in-kind supporters, partners and patrons. A true team effort!

NSF 2026 featured much-loved BAFTA-winning children's presenter, Maddie Moate; adventurer and author Aldo Kane; Great British Bake-Off finalist and chemist Josh Smalley; and comedian Robin Ince. It also showcased the remarkable and world-leading science coming from the Festival's Principal Partner, University of East Anglia, and Norwich Research Park, home to four national research institutes, a University Hospital and more than 50 businesses spun out from scientific research based here in the East of England.

The Forum and Norwich Science Festival is proud to have been shortlisted alongside a set of fantastic finalists, including Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival, First Light Festival, Norwich Wine Week, Out There Festival and Wild Paths Festival and more. Our congratulations go to all of the organisations shortlisted in 2026!

The NSF team had a great evening at the Suffolk and Norfolk Tourism Awards, hosted by ITV's Chris Page at Diss Corn Hall and can't wait to start planning its 11th edition as part of The Forum's 25th anniversary celebrations in spring 2027.

Norwich Science Festival is presented by The Forum, which is a registered charity. We produce our own free events and festivals throughout the year to inspire, entertain and inform. As a busy public building, we welcome more than a million people through our doors each year.