--- title: "ETH Zurich and University of Zurich present Scientifica in Zurich; nine-day run for the first time" sdDatePublished: "2026-08-13T09:13:00Z" source: "https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2026/08/switzerlands-largest-science-festival-in-zurich-this-augus.html" topics: - name: "college and university" identifier: "medtop:20000405" - name: "science and technology" identifier: "medtop:13000000" - name: "scientific research" identifier: "medtop:20000735" - name: "scientific innovation" identifier: "medtop:20000736" - name: "technology and engineering" identifier: "medtop:20000756" - name: "artificial intelligence" identifier: "medtop:20001298" - name: "environmental policy" identifier: "medtop:20000423" locations: - "Zürich (Kanton)" - "Zürich" - "Switzerland" --- ETH Zurich and University of Zurich present Scientifica in Zurich; nine-day run for the first time Switzerland’s largest science festival in Zurich this August | ETH Zurich Switzerland’s largest science festival in Zurich this August It all kicks off on 22 August when over 1,000 researchers from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich present their work at exhibition booths and in labs, lecture halls and shows. Start-ups will present their future projects, and the City of Zurich’s municipal enterprises will open their doors for an exclusive look behind the scenes. Scientifica, the science festival organised by ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich, kicks off on 22 August and will run for nine days for the first time It will offer exclusive glimpses into research labs and behind-the-scenes looks at Zurich’s municipal enterprises Besides exhibitions, the free programme includes entertaining shows, expert talks and interactive workshops What do researchers do in the labs at ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich? And how is new knowledge generated there? At Scientifica, Switzerland’s largest science festival, scientists share their research with the public for free. “This year’s Scientifica is the biggest since the science festival was launched,” says Annette Oxenius, Vice President for Research at ETH Zurich. This reflects the researchers’ enthusiasm for presenting their work to the public. Over 200 different events will take place between Saturday, 22 August and Sunday, 30 August. All of them revolve around direct interaction with researchers. There are activities for children and families, as well as some specifically aimed at teens or adults. Racing cars, start-ups, and drone shows at the Zurich Innovation Park in Dübendorf For Elisabeth Stark, Vice President Research at the University of Zurich and co-head of Scientifica alongside Oxenius, the opening at the Zurich Innovation Park is already a highlight: “I am delighted that we will be able to kick off Scientifica in Dübendorf, home to our innovation cluster space UZH Space Hub, on Saturday, 22 August.” In the Innovation Park, research groups and start-ups working in the hangars will showcase their cutting-edge projects and products, such as marble produced with a 3D printer. As a scientific guest institution, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) will also present its current research projects on climate and environmental issues. At Scientifica, student groups will also for the first time be opening the doors to their hangars, where they are building autonomous electric racing cars, designing rockets and constructing a hydrogen-powered aircraft that is scheduled to take off in the coming weeks. Workshops give explorers of all ages the chance to tinker and experiment on their own. A drone display, a physics show, an autonomous racing car in action and a Hyperloop pod on the test track round out the programme. Lab visits, dark matter and aquatic worlds at the Hönggerberg and Irchel campuses On Sunday, the second day of Scientifica, the lab visit is an absolute must. Researchers at Hönggerberg will show how they determine the age of Ötzi the glacier mummy, or an old chest of drawers. Visitors are invited to take a peek into the world of quantum physics or the Laboratory of Hydraulics, where researchers build models of lakes and rivers. The programme also includes workshops on nutrition and health, as well as the “Science in your kitchen” show, which brings to life the connection between cooking and physics. In the “Forests and Climate Change” exhibition, researchers will present the latest findings on this topical issue and look forward to engaging with visitors. Dark matter, meerkats and brain research are the focus at the Irchel Campus, where visitors can try out a driving simulator that offers an insight into their navigation behaviour. A physics show lets the audience experience the magic of the quantum world, while a workshop highlights the relaxing effects of green spaces. Exclusive behind-the-scenes glimpses into Switzerland’s biggest city What does it take for a city like Zurich to function? Who develops new methods for wastewater treatment, healthcare and medicine? How do emergency response teams train – and what do the statistics reveal about our daily lives? Municipal departments will open their doors for five days at a wide variety of locations. Researchers from ETH and UZH will also offer various guided tours, experiments and interactive discussions. Between Monday, 24 August and Friday, 28 August, some 70 individual events will take place at various locations across the city of Zurich. Booking is required for these events (see the “Practical information” box). Scientifica is free and generally open to everyone. However, you'll need a free ticket for certain events due to the limited number of places. Free tickets to shows, workshops and events at the weekend Free tickets for workshops, guided tours and shows on the weekends of 22–23 and 29–30 August are available at the on-site ticket counter one hour before the start of each event. Advanced online booking is not possible. There are always plenty of alternative activities that are accessible without a ticket. Registration for weekday events Registration is required for the events in the city (24–28 August). You can register online free of charge from 17 August. Getting there by public transport There is no parking available at the individual locations, but they are easily accessible by public transport. A shuttle bus departs every 15 minutes from Stettbach Station and Dübendorf Station for the Zurich Innovation Park in Dübendorf. Chemistry show, robots and the future of medicine at the Scientifica grand finale in the city centre On the closing weekend (29–30 August), over 1,000 researchers look forward to engaging with visitors at 70 exhibition booths and dozens of events. They cover the full range of subjects offered by the two universities. From artificial intelligence and robotics to the future of medicine and the state of our planet’s natural resources, visitors can discover what’s new in every field and ask questions. The whole family can get excited and be amazed by shows featuring Professor and Profesora Bummbastic, the chemistry show and the cooking demonstrations. The same goes for the magic show and the science slam in the event tent on the Polyterrasse. And when parents want to relax, they can take their children to the UP4mint Café, where 8- to 12-year-olds can learn while having fun. ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich have been inviting the public to Scientifica since 2011. The public event quickly became Switzerland’s largest science festival, with hundreds of participants and over 20,000 visitors. The City of Zurich has been a partner of Scientifica since 2021. Its municipal service departments will provide visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of Switzerland’s biggest city. The Zurich Innovation Park in Dübendorf is a new partner this year, helping to make the 2026 edition of Scientifica the biggest ever. You can find the full programme on the website: external page www.scientifica.ch 13.08.2026 by Roland Baumann, Corporate Communications