A series of events and exhibitions at this year’s festival will invite audiences to discover new ideas, take part in creative activities and gain fresh perspectives.
Visitors will be able to learn directly from researchers and academics across the University about topics ranging from local biodiversity and environmental challenges to the cutting-edge scientific research shaping our understanding of the natural world.
Art and science exhibition at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, 11–14 June 2026
Art, science and nature combine at the Botanic Garden in an immersive exhibition of hope and inspiration exploring the power and potential of greenhouse gas removal (GGR).
Reclaiming Hope, Removing Carbon by CO2RE, the UK’s national hub on greenhouse gas removal, will explore the power and potential of GGR in achieving global climate goals.
This free public event brings together seven artists from across the UK working in collaboration with climate researchers.
Set across the Botanic Garden site, the showcase features a series of installations and experiences, including film, performance, animation, sound, and virtual reality.
From a moving image installation exploring how algae respond to breath, to sculptural works transforming waste into biochar, each work offers a different way of engaging with climate change, not just through learning, but through feeling, imagination and experience.
Nick Wray, Curator of the Botanic Garden, said: “We’re proud to welcome CO2RE to the Botanic Garden and to provide a space where artists can present works on the theme of hope, each focusing on a different approach to carbon removal.
Visitors will be able to explore these exhibits and engage directly with climate experts to learn more about what carbon removal is, all during a weekend when the city is celebrating the natural world through the Festival of Nature.”
Alongside the artworks, visitors can get to grips with climate science through hands-on demonstrations and workshops for all the family.
Wild Weekend at Millennium Square, 13-14 June 2026
The University of Bristol researchers will also join the Wild Weekend on13 and 14 June in Millennium Square.
Coordinated by the University's Centre for Public Engagement, the public will be able to engage in an interactive showcase of the very latest research.
Visitors will have the chance to learn about a variety of topics, including the rare and threatened whitebeam trees from the Avon Gorge, ancient climates preserved in the tiny shells of fossil plankton, and interesting fields of study ranging from environmental humanities to analytical chemistry.
Dr Melanie Roffet-Salque, Associate Professor in Environmental Chemistry, said: “Over the years, we have developed several interactive activities that translate our laboratory work into hands-on demonstrations linked to the festival’s themes. It is a fantastic opportunity to share our passion for our subject and show how the research we do every day connects to the world around us.”