About World Science Festival Brisbane

Entering its 11th year, World Science Festival Brisbane 2026 invites you to dive into the interconnected worlds that make up our magnificent universe. From mycelium networks to the mutual gravity of galaxies, the interweb of brain neurons, earth’s ecosystems and every microscopic layer imaginable, everything in our universe is held
together by delicate strands of life.

The festival was founded in 2008 by the renowned physicist Professor Brian Greene and Emmy award-winning journalist Tracy Day in New York, with the mission to ignite public curiosity about science and its role in shaping our future. A production of the World Science Foundation, a not-for-profit based in New York, the festival has inspired millions globally. Since its launch in Brisbane in 2016, WSFB has brought some of the world’s greatest minds to Queensland, deepening the public’s connection to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and changing how people engage with science.

Presented by Queensland Museum with the support of the Queensland Government and partners, WSFB continues to build Queensland Museum’s position as a leader in STEM education. Don’t miss out—come join us and be part of the journey.

New York to Brisbane

Hailed by The New York Times as ‘a new cultural institution’, the World Science Festival – founded by renowned Physicist Professor Brian Greene and Emmy award-winning journalist Tracy Day – has been held annually in New York for more than a decade.

The World Science Festival brings together great minds in science and the arts to produce live and digital content that presents the wonders of science and the drama of scientific discovery to a broad general audience.

World Science Festival has featured scientific and cultural luminaries including Stephen Hawking, Sylvia Earle, Anna Deavere Smith, Oliver Sacks, John Hockenberry, Elizabeth Vargas among many others. The annual Festivals have collectively drawn more than 1.3 million visitors since 2008, and millions more have viewed the programs online.

World Science Festival is a production of the World Science Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in New York City. The foundation’s mission is to cultivate a general public informed by science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future.

World Science U is the foundation’s online education arm where students and lifelong learners can dive more deeply through artfully produced digital education content presented by world-renowned scientists.

Science in the regions

Taking science across Queensland

World Science Festival Queensland (WSFQ) is a statewide celebration that brings the wonder of science to communities across Queensland.

World Science Festival Queensland (WSFQ) is a statewide celebration that brings science and awe-inspiring creativity to communities across Queensland. As the only festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, WSFQ is offering STEM experiences to regional areas, with the support of the Queensland Government.

The festival’s presence in regional Queensland continues to grow, and the excitement for STEM is clear. By bringing leading thinkers, groundbreaking discoveries, and interactive experiences to regional communities, students and families can engage with new ideas and dive deeper into STEM.
This year’s WSFQ aims to expand how we experience science, with wonder and discovery in communities across the state.

Explore WSFB

WSFB Partners

Accessibility

Sustainability