Photo : Université Paris Cité
Fête de la Science 2026 at Université Paris Cité: the program of unmissable events!
Forget the dusty labs and come discover the fascinating science hidden within your everyday life. From interactive experiments about nutrition to deeper dives into how your brain actually works, the university campus turns into an inspiring playground for inquisitive minds.
About
From October 1st to October 12th, 2026, Université Paris Cité hosts the Fête de la Science, focusing on nutrition, health, and scientific discovery. Visitors of all ages can participate in free interactive workshops, demonstrations, and discussions led by researchers. From the chemistry of cooking to brain cognition and sleep research, the program offers a diverse look at how science impacts our daily lives. Whether visiting the Grands Moulins campus, attending a theatrical performance in Fontainebleau, or joining a participatory brunch, this event provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with the scientific community across various locations in and around Paris.
The Fête de la Science (Science Festival) at Université Paris Cité, in partnership with the Ile-de-France Region and the City of Paris, puts food in the spotlight. Whether it is the chemistry hidden on our plates, the role of the gut microbiota, or the behind-the-scenes creation of the Nutri-Score, visitors will discover how nutrition shapes our health and our daily lives. Young and old alike will be able to experiment, play, observe, and engage with passionate researchers.
On the menu
- Interactive workshops for all ages
- Unique demonstrations and scientific experiments
- Exciting meetings and discussions
- Discoveries centered around food, physics, linguistics, health, mathematics, and even sports!
Many disciplines come together to help you see science in a different way.
Among the must-see appointments of the program:
- The Grands Moulins Science Village (Thursday, October 1st to Saturday, October 3rd): find numerous interactive workshops on food, chemistry, physics, health, linguistics, and mathematics at the Grands Moulins campus of the Université Paris Cité in the 13th arrondissement.
- Visit to the Memory, Brain, and Cognition Laboratory (Friday, October 2nd, Boulogne): the LMC² studies memory, the brain, and cognition. During this visit, you will discover how new technologies can help assess and train memory and attention! Scientists will present tools such as serious games, virtual reality, or tablets, used in research and cognitive rehabilitation.
- Theater: The Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht (Tuesday, October 6th, Fontainebleau): a special evening centered on Galileo, science, and doubt as an act of resistance in the 17th century.
- Round table “Sleeping better to think better” (Wednesday, October 7th, Odéon): Professor Geoffroy (researcher at Neurodiderot and specialist in sleep) invites you to reflect on the major impact of sleep on mental health and learning.
- “The Great Health Debunk” Nutrition Special (Thursday, October 8th, Odéon): an interactive event co-organized with the PUMS channel and the AP-HP to debunk food fake news.
- “Travelers of the Palate” Workshop (Sunday, October 11th, Atlelier WAYO): a unique sensory workshop led by chef Émilie Felix and Professor Sylvie Tordjman at Atelier WAYO, exploring cooking as a vehicle for social bonding and awakening. You will be invited to mobilize your senses, observe your sensations, and question your own perception!
- Participatory brunch “At the table with science” (Sunday, October 11th, Bagnolet): the Petites Cantines of Bagnolet invite you to cook from 10 am alongside a scientist, before sharing a friendly, pay-what-you-wish brunch starting at 1 pm.
To learn more about the full program: Fête de la science | Université Paris Cité
Our take on this event
The 2026 Fête de la Science at Université Paris Cité highlights the role of nutrition in our lives, from the microbiota to the Nutri-Score. The event kicks off with the Grands Moulins Science Village, running from October 1st to October 3rd, featuring interactive activities ranging from physics to linguistics.
Throughout the following days, the schedule includes diverse scientific explorations. Highlights include a tour of the Memory, Brain, and Cognition laboratory in Boulogne on October 2nd, a theater performance on October 6th in Fontainebleau, and a discussion on sleep and mental health at Odéon on October 7th. On October 8th, an interactive session at Odéon will tackle food-related fake news.
The program concludes with sensory experiences on October 11th, such as the 'Les voyageurs du palais' workshop at Atelier WAYO and a collaborative brunch at Bagnolet where participants cook alongside scientists. All listed activities are free, offering a rare chance to connect with experts and explore complex topics in an accessible, hands-on environment.
20°C
Weather forecast
Partly cloudy
max +20 °Cmin +14 °C
