Festival of Science: when Genoa becomes the capital of knowledge

The Festival of Science in Genoa is not an event to watch from afar, but an opportunity to step inside science and experience it firsthand. For a few days, the city fills with experiments, stories and encounters that bring together research, schools and everyday curiosity. You move from conferences with international guests to children’s workshops, from interactive exhibitions to shows that turn complex concepts into simple and direct experiences.

Here you will find all the useful information to follow the current edition: dates, the chosen theme, main venues and how to take part.

What is the Festival of Science and why is it so important

The Festival of Science in Genoa was founded in 2003 with a simple idea: to make science accessible to everyone, not only professionals. In just a few years it has become one of the largest science communication events in Europe, with a programme involving researchers, schools, universities, artists and cultural institutions.

The strength of the Festival lies in its ability to turn complex concepts into concrete experiences. Conferences, workshops, exhibitions and shows create a bridge between the world of research and the public, offering opportunities for dialogue and discovery. It is not just about passing on knowledge, but about sparking questions and curiosity, bringing people of all ages closer to science.

Over the years, the Festival has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors and hosted internationally renowned figures, reinforcing Genoa’s role as a capital of science communication. It is an event that grows alongside its audience, because it combines education, entertainment and cultural tourism in one unique context.

Festival of Science 2025: the theme “Intrecci”

Every year the Festival of Science in Genoa chooses a keyword that becomes the guiding thread of the entire programme. It gives a clear identity to conferences, workshops and exhibitions, and provides the public with a reference point to navigate among the many activities.

The official dates of the Festival of Science 2025

The 2025 edition will take place from 23 October to 2 November. For eleven days Genoa will welcome researchers, students, communicators and visitors from all over Italy and abroad, with a schedule of events spread across different spaces in the city: Palazzo Ducale, museums, theatres and university venues.

The meaning of the theme chosen for this edition

The keyword for 2025 is “Intrecci” (Entranglements), a concept that highlights the connection between different disciplines and the importance of relationships. Science never advances in isolation: every discovery is the result of exchanges, comparisons and cross-contaminations. “Intrecci” also symbolises how research and society interact with art, philosophy, history and technology, creating new opportunities for understanding.

With this theme, the Festival invites us to see knowledge not as separate compartments, but as a network of threads woven together to form a bigger picture. A message that makes the 2025 edition an opportunity to reflect on the present and imagine the future through the encounter of different worlds.

Programme of the Festival of Science: conferences, exhibitions and workshops

The 2025 Festival of Science will feature a rich and diverse programme that weaves together different formats and languages. Conferences, workshops, exhibitions and performances will take place across the city, with the aim of making science accessible to varied audiences.

Conferences and meetings with scientists and communicators

Conferences are one of the Festival’s main pillars. In 2025 Genoa will once again host scientists, researchers and communicators from national and international backgrounds. The theme “Intrecci” will guide debates ranging from physics, biology and mathematics to neuroscience, philosophy, literature and the visual arts. These meetings will be open to the public and designed to encourage dialogue, with the chance to ask questions and interact directly with the speakers.

Interactive exhibitions and shows for the general public

Alongside the conferences, the Festival will present interactive exhibitions where visitors can explore scientific concepts through multimedia installations, live experiments and sensory paths. There will also be theatre shows and artistic performances that translate scientific languages into creative and immediate forms, engaging a broad and diverse audience.

Workshops and educational activities for schools and families

Special attention is given to schools and families. During the Festival there will be hands-on workshops introducing children and young people to science through simple and engaging experiments. These educational activities are designed to spark curiosity and to show how scientific research is part of everyday life. Adults too will find interactive spaces, with workshops that allow them to actively take part.

The full programme, with dates, times and venues, will be available on the Festival’s official website, updated regularly until the start of the event.

Where the Festival of Science takes place in Genoa

The Festival of Science spreads each year across iconic locations in the city, turning Genoa into a large open-air laboratory. The 2025 edition will once again focus on the historic centre and its squares, with events hosted in historic palaces, museums and cultural spaces.

The main venues of the Festival (Palazzo Ducale and other locations)

The beating heart of the Festival has always been Palazzo Ducale, which hosts conferences, exhibitions and workshops in its halls and courtyards. Alongside this central venue, the programme also includes other strategic locations such as the Genoa Aquarium, the Musei di Strada Nuova, the Galata Maritime Museum, the Teatro della Tosse, the Berio Library, and several university sites.

This network of venues allows visitors to experience the Festival not only as a scientific event, but also as an opportunity to discover the cultural and architectural heritage of the city.

How to get around the city during the event

Genoa’s city centre is well connected, making it easy to reach the Festival’s venues either on foot or by public transport. Buses, the metro and regional trains link the main stations, Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe, with the areas hosting events. Many venues are located within walking distance of each other, so it is possible to create your own route between conferences, exhibitions and workshops.

For those looking for a strategic base, the Hotel Astoria in Genoa is ideally located for moving around the historic centre and quickly reaching the Festival’s main venues, making the experience even more convenient.

Tickets, passes and how to take part

To attend the Festival of Science in Genoa, you need to purchase a ticket or a pass. Different options are available: single tickets for individual activities, multi-entry passes and subscriptions valid for the entire duration of the event.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online via the Festival’s official website or directly at the ticket offices located in the main venues, such as Palazzo Ducale. Discounts are available for students, teachers, children and families, as well as special rates for schools and organised groups.

Taking part is simple: once you have selected the events you are interested in, just book your ticket and go to the indicated venue. This way you can build a personalised journey through conferences, exhibitions, workshops and performances, experiencing the Festival at your own pace and according to your curiosity.

Why visit the Festival of Science: an experience for everyone

The Festival of Science in Genoa is designed for a wide and varied audience. Students and teachers can join targeted educational activities, families can take part in interactive workshops for children, and enthusiasts and the curious have the chance to engage with researchers and international science communicators.

Visiting the Festival means getting in direct contact with science, not through textbooks or lectures, but through practical experiences and moments of dialogue. Conferences, exhibitions and shows use different languages to explore the same theme, allowing each visitor to choose the path that best suits their interests.

The value of the event goes beyond scientific content: every edition turns Genoa into a meeting point between disciplines, cultures and generations. For the city it is an opportunity for cultural and tourist growth, and for visitors it is a way to live science as a collective, shared and stimulating experience.