Meet the stars of Cheltenham Science Festival 2026

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Great British Bake Off finalist Josh Smalley are among those appearing at this year's Cheltenham Science Festival.

Wales will discuss the future of online trust while Smalley will break down the chemistry of pizza at the festival, which runs from 2 to 7 June.

Across more than 100 events, experts will also examine public fascination with true crime, the geopolitics of the Arctic and how science can predict the outcome of the World Cup.

Dr Marieke Navin, head of programming, said: "This year, Cheltenham Science Festival is back with a bang as we delve into how science is shaping our collective futures."

Oceanographer Russell Arnott, forensic scientist Angela Gallop CBE and author and broadcaster Claudia Hammond are also among the line-up.

Authors James Muldoon and Anna Machin will host a talk to explore relationships in the age of artificial intelligence.

Psychologist Stephanie Romiszewski will discuss myths around sleep science, while Mark Miodownik MBE will lead a cider masterclass to uncover the alchemy of apples.

Free hands-on experiments and puzzles will also be on offer.

Booking opens to Cheltenham Festival members on 15 April and to the general public on 22 April.

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