The Best National Science Week events in Sydney for 2026
Lab coats optional: the best National Science Week events in Sydney for 2026
From liquid nitrogen and roaming dinosaurs to carnivorous plants, coded messages and virtual trips to Antarctica, Sydney is turning into one enormous laboratory this National Science Week.
Running from 15 to 23 August 2026, National Science Week brings thousands of events to museums, universities, libraries, parks and community spaces around Australia. Many of Sydney’s biggest events are free, family-friendly and designed for children who prefer their learning with a side of explosions, bugs or virtual reality. (National Science Week)
Science Week at a glance
🔬 Best big family day: Science in the Swamp
🌱 Best Inner West event: Sydney City Farm Open Day
🦖 Best for younger scientists: Sydney Science Trail at the Australian Museum
🌌 Best for teens: The Impact Factor: Matter of Origin
🕵️ Best rainy-day option: Science at the Museum
🚗 Best worth-the-drive adventure: Sydney Science Trail at Mount Annan
Most events are free, but many still require registration. Workshop places are particularly limited, so this is one occasion when leaving the booking tab open for three days may not end well.
🎪 Big family days out
👣 Sydney Science Trail Community Day
The Australian Museum will become a full-scale science playground, with more than 15 interactive activities, live demonstrations, scientists stationed throughout the galleries and shows hosted by the Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman.
Kids can investigate real specimens, meet working researchers and catch the Let’s Go! Science Show. General entry is free, although some shows and experiences require paid add-on tickets.
Best for: Families with primary-aged children
When: Saturday 15 August, 10am to 5pm
Where: Australian Museum, Darlinghurst
Cost: Free entry; registration required
Parent note: The venue is wheelchair accessible and easy to reach by public transport. Some activities cost extra, so check what is included when booking. (National Science Week)
💬 Soapbox Science Sydney
Twelve women working across science, technology, engineering and mathematics will take to soapboxes at Darling Harbour to share their research without lecture halls, jargon or intimidating PowerPoint decks.
It is an informal opportunity for children to meet the humans behind the science, ask questions and see the range of careers that exist within STEM.
Best for: Older primary-aged children, teens and future scientists
When: Saturday 15 August, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Where: Dancers’ Alley, Darling Harbour
Cost: Free
Parent note: This is an outdoor event, so dress for the weather and combine it with a Darling Harbour wander or lunch nearby. Check the event listing before leaving, as published program details may be updated. (Humanitix)
🦖 Science in the Swamp
Centennial Park is trading peaceful Sunday strolls for liquid nitrogen, microscopes, robots and one rather difficult-to-ignore dinosaur.
More than 50 stalls, workshops and activity zones will cover chemistry, forensic science, marine habitats, native wildlife, robotics and citizen science. Families can meet researchers, investigate frogs and water bugs, and encounter Ginger, the life-sized roaming Australovenator.
Best for: All ages, particularly active children who like to explore
When: Sunday 16 August, 10am to 3pm
Where: Dickens Lawn, Centennial Park
Cost: Free
Parent note: It is outdoors and designed to be explored at your own pace, so families can stay for an hour or make a day of it. Parking is limited and public transport is recommended. (National Science Week)
🌿 Indigenous Science Experience at Redfern
This free community open day brings Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Western science together through hands-on activities, performances and conversations.
Families can learn from Elders about bush foods and medicines, explore the environmental uses of native seaweeds, discover how native bees support healthy ecosystems and experience Torres Strait Islander culture through virtual reality. There will also be weaving, cultural performances, physics and chemistry activities.
Best for: All ages
When: Saturday 22 August, 10am to 3pm
Where: Redfern Community Centre
Cost: Free; bookings recommended
Parent note: The centre is around a one-minute walk from Redfern Station, making this one of the easiest events to reach from the Inner West. (National Science Week)
🐮 Sydney City Farm Open Day
One of the best local options lands in St Peters, where Sydney City Farm will celebrate the science hiding in seeds, soil, insects and everyday gardens.
Families can inspect leaf-litter bugs under microscopes, make seed bombs and sun-print artworks, join a pollinator tour and discover how birds, bats and mammals help plants reproduce. Kids can also pot a seedling to take home.
Best for: Preschoolers and primary-aged children
When: Saturday 22 August, 10am to 2pm
Where: Sydney City Farm, Sydney Park, St Peters
Cost: Free; bookings essential
Parent note: This is a drop-in-style event, although families must register. Bring a water bottle, supervise children throughout and consider public transport, as recommended by the organisers. (National Science Week)
🚗 Worth the drive: Sydney Science Trail at Mount Annan
Families happy to venture beyond the Inner West can explore plant science and conservation at the Australian Botanic Garden.
The program includes behind-the-scenes access to PlantBank, the National Herbarium of New South Wales and the plant nursery, along with workshops, guided walks and activities featuring frogs and invertebrates. Children can complete a Plant Passport while adults briefly pretend the family outing is progressing exactly according to schedule.
Best for: Nature-loving families of all ages
When: Saturday 22 August, 10am to 3pm
Where: Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
Cost: Free; registration required
Parent note: Bring a picnic for the Herbarium Lawn or buy food, coffee and ice cream from vendors at the event. (National Science Week)
☔ Workshops and rainy-day options
🪴 3D print a carnivorous plant planter
Part botany lesson, part design challenge and far more exciting than another pencil holder.
Children will learn about carnivorous plants before using Tinkercad to create a personalised planter. Their finished design will then be produced using the library’s 3D printers.
Best for: Children aged eight to 14
When: Wednesday 19 August, sessions between 12pm and 5.30pm
Where: Burwood Library and Community Hub
Cost: Free; bookings essential
Parent note: Printed planters may need to be collected from the library the following week. The venue is wheelchair accessible. (National Science Week)
🧪 Science at the Museum
The Chau Chak Wing Museum’s weekend program is ideal for children who enjoy codes, puzzles and covert operations.
Visitors can create maths-inspired artwork, experiment with unusual mirrors, build a Caesar cipher and complete a cryptography treasure hunt. On Sunday, working Enigma machines will demonstrate how coded messages were encrypted during the Second World War.
Best for: Primary-aged children, tweens and teens
When: Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, 12pm to 4pm
Where: Chau Chak Wing Museum, Camperdown
Cost: Free
Parent note: The craft activities and treasure hunt run across both afternoons. The working Enigma machine demonstrations take place on Sunday from noon. (National Science Week)
👩🦰 For older kids, teens and curious grown-ups
🧊 Postcards from Antarctica
For teens and adults who would happily board the next ship south, this free evening combines science, art and exploration.
The event marks the world premiere of Postcards from Antarctica, a collaborative artwork created by 124 women and non-binary STEMM professionals during a 2025 expedition. Visitors can experience 360-degree virtual reality footage, hear short talks about Antarctic science and join a panel discussion with researchers and artists.
Best for: Teens and adults interested in science, art or conservation
When: Tuesday 18 August, 6pm to 8pm
Where: Chau Chak Wing Museum, Camperdown
Cost: Free
Parent note: This is an evening of talks and conversation rather than a children’s activity session. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has a hearing loop. (National Science Week)
✨ The Impact Factor: Matter of Origin
Consider this the brainy night out for older children, teens and anyone whose search history contains questions such as “How did the universe begin?” and “Where did life actually come from?”
Astrophysicist Professor Geraint Lewis and chemist Dr Haihui Joy Jiang will explore cosmic evolution, the chemistry behind the origins of life and how understanding our past could help shape the future.
Best for: Science-loving teens and adults
When: Thursday 20 August, 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: York Theatre, Seymour Centre, Chippendale
Cost: Free; registration essential
Parent note: The event runs for approximately 90 minutes without an interval. Campus parking is limited, so public transport is the easier option. (The University of Sydney)
🎥 Documentary screening: 2040
Damon Gameau’s documentary takes a solutions-focused look at climate change, imagining what the world could look like if existing environmental ideas were adopted more widely.
Animation, humour and visual effects make complex topics accessible to children and adults. The screening will be followed by a discussion about what has changed since the film was released and what still needs to happen.
Best for: Upper primary-aged children, teens and adults
When: Friday 21 August, 10am to 11.30am
Where: Waverley Library, Bondi Junction
Cost: Free; bookings essential
Parent note: The Friday morning timing may suit homeschoolers, families with flexible schedules or parents attending without children. (National Science Week)
🏡 Find something closer to home
Can’t make it to one of the larger events? Check your local library and council program, too. Libraries and community centres across Sydney often run free Science Week workshops, experiments, screenings, storytimes and activities closer to home.
Event details can change, so confirm times, age requirements and booking arrangements with the organiser before setting out. Places at the hands-on workshops may disappear faster than an unattended packet of biscuits, so book ahead where required.
This version can also be trimmed into a shorter newsletter feature while keeping the parent-friendly labels and practical details.
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