Atlanta Science Festival returns with roughly 150 events, culminating in Piedmont Park’s free Exploration Expo

A two-week slate of science programming across metro Atlanta

The Atlanta Science Festival is underway in metro Atlanta, running from March 7 through March 21, 2026, with a program described by organizers as nearly 150 events hosted at more than 80 venues. The festival is built around hands-on, public-facing activities that span science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, with offerings designed for children, teens and adults.

Organizers describe the festival as an effort to connect residents with local science and technology through experiences that range from nature and environmental topics to demonstrations, tours and science-themed storytelling. Programming is spread across the region rather than anchored to a single campus or institution, reflecting the festival’s partner-driven model.

Who produces the festival and how it is supported

The Atlanta Science Festival is engineered by Science ATL, a local nonprofit. The festival was founded by Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. Organizers list Delta Air Lines as the presenting sponsor for the festival, alongside additional corporate and institutional supporters.

A festival fact sheet states that since the inaugural event in 2014, the festival has brought science programming to more than 450,000 people in the metro Atlanta region. The same document states that evaluation data indicates the racial and ethnic diversity of festival attendees closely matches that of metro Atlanta.

Exploration Expo set for March 21 at Piedmont Park

The festival’s finale is the Exploration Expo, scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Piedmont Park. Organizers describe the Expo as free and open to the public, positioning it as the largest single-day, interactive science gathering within the festival.

The Expo is planned to feature 100 hands-on, interactive booths and activities presented by local organizations, universities and companies. Organizers say attendees can expect demonstrations and interactive displays spanning a wide range of topics and techniques—from microscopes and robotics to engineering and biomedical concepts—delivered in a park setting.

• Dates: March 7–21, 2026
• Finale: Exploration Expo on March 21, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Location for finale: Piedmont Park
• Scale described by organizers: nearly 150 events across 80+ venues; 100+ interactive Expo booths

Registration and logistics

While the Exploration Expo is promoted as free, organizers have encouraged attendees to pre-register to help with planning and event operations. Across the broader festival schedule, organizers indicate that many events are free, while some require registration and may include a nominal fee depending on the host site and format.

The Atlanta Science Festival runs through March 21, with the Exploration Expo serving as the culminating, large-scale public event at Piedmont Park.

The remaining festival days continue with events at multiple locations across metro Atlanta, with schedules and capacity varying by event and venue.