Offering a week-long opportunity for everyone to talk science, see science and do science, National Science Week features more than 1,000 events around Australia, including those delivered by universities, schools, research institutions, libraries, museums and science centres.

There are plenty of events no matter your scientific skillset; from kids and adults to science novices and science buffs, and everyone in between. Over one million people participate in science events across the nation — and you can too! 

We've rounded up the best National Science Week events in Sydney in 2026 for the ultimate experience of educational family fun. 

When is National Science Week?

Running from 15-23 August 2026, National Science Week is bursting with engaging, immersive experiences just waiting to be explored. These events span in-person events, virtual tours, webcasts, talks, DIY experiments, quizzes, citizen science and competitions—meaning there's something for everyone. 

National Science Week Theme: Seeds of Science

The idea behind this year's theme, Seeds of Science, is that knowledge, like a seed, needs the right conditions to grow.

Curiosity is the starting point, and a good question can lead somewhere unexpected. For younger kids, that might look like planting seeds and tracking what happens. For older kids, it opens the door to bigger topics: how First Nations knowledge and Western science intersect, how food gets from paddock to plate, or how something as small as a grain of sand connects to geology and space.

What's On During National Science Week 2026

1. UNSW x National Science Week

UNSW is going big for National Science Week 2026, running events from 10 to 28 August across campus and out into the community.

The standout family drawcards are two FREE outdoor science festivals: Science in the Swamp at Centennial Parklands on 16 August, and Science in the Scrub in Western Sydney Parklands on 23 August, both running 10 am to 4 pm with hands-on activities, researchers on hand and plenty to explore for curious kids. For families wanting an evening out, there's an Under Southern Skies stargazing evening on 18 August with telescopes and planetarium experiences, and older kids or teens with a taste for the macabre might enjoy Anatomy According to Hollywood on 20 August, a session inside the Museum of Human Disease unpacking how film and TV get the human body wrong. 

Where:   Multiple locations — view the full program
When:    10-28 August 2026
Cost:      FREE 

2. Sydney Science Trail Family Community Days — Australian Museum & Australian Botanic Garden

The Sydney Science Trail is now in its seventh year, run jointly by the Australian Museum and Botanic Gardens of Sydney, and this year it opens and closes National Science Week with two separate family days at two very different venues.

On Saturday, 15 August, the Australian Museum hosts the Sydney Science Trail: Community Day, a hands-on STEM day where kids can wander interactive stalls and chat with real working scientists. A week later, on Saturday, 22 August, the trail moves outdoors to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan for a day of science talks, nature experiences and hands-on activities.

It's a nice one-two for families: a city museum day to kick things off, then a garden-based day out to close the week, giving Sydney families a local option either way.

Registrations for both days open in July 2026.

Where:   Australian Museum & Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
When:    15 & 22 August 2026
Cost:      FREE. Registrations required.

3. WonderLab!

Woollahra Library will transform into an enormous experimental playground for WonderLab!, with more than 30 activities exploring light, sound, forces and electromagnetism.

Families can tackle puzzles and optical illusions, visit the tinkering station and chat with a scientist while investigating how everyday objects work.

Where:  Woollahra Library, 451 New South Head Road, Double Bay
When:   Saturday, 15 August 2026, 10 am to 4 pm
Cost:     FREE — drop in throughout the day

4. The Planets: Concert and Stargazing

Music and astronomy meet at Centennial Park as the Sydney Youth Orchestra performs selections from Gustav Holst's The Planets, alongside music from Doctor Who, The Mandalorian and Star Wars.

Astrophysicist Dr Luke Barnes will introduce the evening's stargazing before Sydney City Skywatchers help families search for planets and stars through powerful telescopes.

Where:  Loch Avenue, Centennial Park
When:   Saturday 15 August 2026; entry from 3 pm, concert from 3.30-5 pm and stargazing from 5.30-8 pm
Cost:     $36.50 per adult or child; four tickets for $130

5. Astronomy in the Parklands

For even more adventures in astronomy, don't miss Astronomy in the Parklands!

Pack a picnic and warm layers for an evening beneath the Western Sydney sky. The Macarthur Astronomical Society will begin with an astronomy talk before helping families view celestial objects through telescopes. Live images will also be projected from a telescope, allowing the whole family to examine the night sky together.

Where:  The Dairy Picnic Ground, Western Sydney Parklands, Abbotsbury
When:   Saturday, 22 August 2026; entry from 5 pm, astronomy talk at 5.30 pm and stargazing from 6-8 pm
Cost:     $17.50 for adults and children aged five and over; four tickets for $60

6. The Big Brick Build at Waverley Library

Children can put their engineering ideas to work with LEGO®, a new LEGO® wall and oversized building blocks at Waverley Library.

The self-directed sessions encourage creative construction and collaborative problem-solving, with after-school hours during the week and longer drop-in sessions across the weekend. Carers must remain with their children.

Where:  Waverley Library, 32-48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction
When:   Monday 17 to Friday 21 August 2026, 3-6 pm; Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, 10 am-4 pm
Cost:     FREE

7. Blast Off to Science Week at Ermington Library

Preschoolers can blast into Science Week in Sydney with stories and a simple hands-on activity at Ermington Library.

The short session has been designed for young attention spans and gives little scientists a playful introduction to discovery. Recommended for ages 0 to 5.

Where: Ermington Library, River Road, Ermington
When:  Wednesday, 19 August 2026 from 10.30-11 am
Cost:    FREE

8. Science Week Documentary: 2040

Damon Gameau's G-rated documentary imagines what life could look like in 2040 if solutions already available to improve the planet were adopted on a larger scale.

Animation and visual effects make complex environmental ideas accessible to children, and the screening will be followed by a discussion about what has changed since the film was first released.

Where:  Waverley Library, 32–48 Denison Street, Bondi Junction
When:   Friday, 21 August 2026 from 10-11.30 am
Cost:     FREE

9. Sydney City Farm Open Day: Seeds of Science

Sydney City Farm's free open day will reveal the science hidden in soil, seeds and small garden creatures.

Children can make seed bombs and sun prints, examine leaf-litter bugs under microscopes and learn how plants spread their seeds. There will also be a scavenger hunt, beneficial insect activities, and seedlings to pot and take home.

Where: Sydney City Farm, 52 Barwon Park Road, St Peters
When:  Saturday, 22 August 2026 from 10 am to 2 pm
Cost:    FREE — bookings recommended

10. Radical Reptile Show

Get close to some scaly local residents during the interactive Radical Reptile Show at Mona Vale Memorial Hall.

Children will learn about the important role reptiles play in Australian ecosystems before meeting live animals under the guidance of experienced handlers. Parents and carers must remain with their children throughout the show.

Where:  Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street, Mona Vale
When:   Saturday, 15 August 2026 from 1-2 pm
Cost:     $5 per child, plus booking fee; bookings essential

More Fun Events in Sydney

Save the Date: Sydney's Cherry Blossom Festival Returns
The Best Sensory-Friendly Events in Sydney
Must-see Musicals Coming to Sydney

 

Have you signed up for our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!