Bringing “Science is Wonderful! 2026” to life

Science is Wonderful! 2026 was a three-day science fair held in Brussels (18–20 March 2026), designed to make science engaging and accessible for young audiences while highlighting the impact of EU research. The event connected researchers directly with schoolchildren through experiments, demonstrations, and science shows.

Challenge

Delivering Science is Wonderful! 2026 required orchestrating a large-scale, multi-day event that could engage thousands of young visitors while maintaining a seamless and inclusive experience. The project brought together 148 researchers from around the world and approximately 4,000 pupils across diverse age groups, educational backgrounds, and language communities, creating significant complexity in both programme design and on-site delivery.

To succeed, the event needed to balance scientific accuracy with accessibility, ensuring that research content was engaging and understandable for young audiences, while also managing extensive logistics—from coordinating 43 interactive booths with different needs and multiple science shows to organising transport, catering, and participant flows. At the same time, the team had to address multilingual requirements, tight timelines, and evolving operational needs, all within a set budget and with high expectations for quality and impact.

Solution

SPECTRA delivered Science is Wonderful! 2026 through a structured project management approach, coordinating all aspects of school outreach, participant engagement, and on-site operations in close collaboration with the European Commission. The team led a comprehensive communication and registration process with schools, organising the participation and visit of approximately 4,000 pupils across three days.

To support the full event experience, SPECTRA designed and implemented 43 interactive booths and 13 science shows, alongside complete logistical planning. This covered visitor flow, welcome and registration processes, lunch organisation, and all practical arrangements required to host large numbers of school groups in a smooth and efficient way.

Results

Science is Wonderful! 2026 was a successful, high-impact, science outreach event, engaging approximately 4,000 pupils and 148 researchers over three days. SPECTRA created a dynamic environment where young audiences could explore science through hands-on activities, direct interaction, and live demonstrations.

Strong participation and engagement were reflected in both attendance and interaction levels. Thousands of pupils visited the exhibition, with over half benefiting from organised transport solutions. Interactive features—such as live science shows, booths, and participatory activities—generated sustained audience involvement throughout the event.

Operationally, the team achieved full delivery across all key components, including venue setup, participant management, and programme implementation. We effectively executed complex logistics—such as travel arrangements for participants, multilingual support, and high-volume catering—ensuring a smooth experience across all three days. Based on post-event survey results, 97% of researchers and 98% of teachers reported a positive experience.

Overall, the event strengthened connections between citizens and EU-funded research, increased awareness of scientific careers among young people, and demonstrated the value of interactive, inclusive science communication at scale.