Edinburgh Science Festival returns between 4 and 19 April 2026 with the theme “Going Global”. This year, as with every year, the Festival will present a range of exhibitions and events, showcasing the captivating world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). So writes Catherine Coutts for theQR.co.uk…
There really is something for everyone, including a conversation with wildlife photographer and Strictly Come Dancing winner Hamza Yassin; an art exhibition examining the brilliance, beauty, and fragility of soil; theatrical productions featuring AI; life-sized 3D sculptures of dinosaurs; and far more pieces than can be covered here.
Highlights of the programme
Drift Presented by Madeline Squire (ex-Scottish Ballet) and Wendy Timmons (Edinburgh University), this new dance piece explores the state of our oceans today, focusing on the impact of overfishing. Inspired by the complex structures of coral reefs, the dancers weave their limbs together, competing for space as their environment shrinks—mirroring how marine life becomes displaced when habitats are destroyed. As the piece unfolds, it also highlights the oceans’ remarkable capacity for cooperation and renewal, reminding us that regeneration is our collective responsibility and hope for the future. (9 April, Gordon Aikman Theatre)
The Great Instauration Artist Dr Gayle Chong Kwan leads a guided tour of her research into scientific instruments, Scotland’s historical connections with slavery, the botanical origins of medicine, infirmaries, and contemporary community gardens in Edinburgh. She shares the artistic, material, and research processes that underpin her new commission. (17 April, National Museum of Scotland)
Sphaerosymphony: The Music of the Air This show blends science, art, and imagination by transforming real-time air quality data from cities around the world into an immersive visual and musical experience. A dynamic 3D sphere glows, pulses, and resonates in response to measured atmospheric changes. Presented by creative technologist David Oxley and Piera Morlacchi, Associate Professor at The University of Edinburgh. (16 April, Bayes Centre)
Going Global
Launching the Festival on Thursday at the Hub, Director and CEO Hassun El-Zafar—himself a former science teacher—said:
“Every year, Edinburgh Science Festival showcases what is possible when science, creativity and international collaboration come together. With this year’s theme of Going Global, our programme highlights the extraordinary work being done across borders to address our shared challenges.”
The Going Global theme reflects on science as a shared human story whilst simultaneously celebrating the local: universities, laboratories, hospitals, schools, and cultural spaces. I suspect that Quinntessential Review readers may come for the art—but you’ll stay for the science.
Featured Image: Credit – Edinburgh Science Festival 2026
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