Battle bots, giant bubbles and hands-on experiments are coming to Newcastle, with the Hunter Science Festival set to return to Newcastle Museum for a full day of family-friendly fun during National Science Week.
Now in its fifth year, the free festival will take over Newcastle Museum and its surrounding grounds on Sunday, bringing together scientists, educators and innovators across more than 40 interactive stalls.
The event attracted 7,000 visitors in 2025 and is expanding this year with more exhibitors, activities and a new outdoor stage.
The new stage will host a full day of science entertainment, giving families the chance to enjoy the action from the lawn while tucking into a picnic.
The program includes science magic from The Pretty Amazing Jono, explosive demonstrations from Fizzics Education and spectacular bubble theatre from The Bubble Laboratory.
One of the biggest attractions will be the arrival of Hunter Combat Robotics, giving visitors the chance to get behind the controls of palm-sized, 3D-printed battle robots.
Budding bot builders can drive the remote-controlled machines inside a purpose-built perspex arena while discovering how design, electronics and engineering come together.
There will be plenty more to explore away from the battle arena, including solar-powered mini electric vehicles, a real shark egg, a radio telescope, rocks, fossils and dinosaur displays.
Visitors can also meet a robot dog from Fizzics Education and a humanoid robot from the University of Newcastle’s NUbots team, while the popular HMRI Poo Palace returns for a journey through the digestive system.
The Hunter Science Festival takes place at Newcastle Museum on Sunday, 23 August 2026, as part of National Science Week. The festival is free and family-friendly. More information is available through the Newcastle Museum events program.
