National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, maths, research, innovation and discovery. It is held in August each year and includes school activities, public talks, exhibitions, experiments, workshops, festivals and online events across the country.
National Science Week is held annually in August. National Science Week 2026 is expected to run from Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August 2026.
National Science Week showcases science, technology, engineering, maths, research, innovation and discovery through events for schools, families, communities and the general public.
No. National Science Week is not a public holiday in Australia. It is an education, community and science engagement event, not an official day off work or school.
Important: Official dates, themes, grants and event listings should be checked with the official National Science Week website each year before schools, libraries, councils or organisations publish final program details.
National Science Week is generally held in August. Use this table for early planning, but confirm official dates and event details each year before publishing final calendars.
| Year | Expected National Science Week dates | Timing | Public holiday? | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August 2026 | August | No | Confirm official dates and theme before final school or community publication. |
| 2027 | Saturday 14 August to Sunday 22 August 2027 | August | No | Good timing for Term 3 school science activities and public events. |
| 2028 | Saturday 12 August to Sunday 20 August 2028 | August | No | Use as an expected planning window until official dates are released. |
| 2029 | Saturday 11 August to Sunday 19 August 2029 | August | No | Useful for long-range school, library, council and museum planning. |
| 2030 | Saturday 17 August to Sunday 25 August 2030 | August | No | Expected August week; update when official program details are available. |
| 2031 | Saturday 16 August to Sunday 24 August 2031 | August | No | Useful for early planning only; confirm official dates closer to the year. |
Simple answer: National Science Week is held in August each year. It is not a public holiday in Australia.
National Science Week is Australia’s major annual science engagement event. It brings together schools, universities, museums, libraries, councils, scientists, science communicators, businesses, community groups and families to celebrate science and encourage curiosity.
The week is designed for the general public, not only scientists. Events can be hands-on, practical, creative, online or community-based.
Schools often use the week to promote science, technology, engineering and maths through experiments, projects and displays.
Events can showcase Australian research, new technology, environmental science, health science, space, engineering, agriculture, data and innovation.
National Science Week can be used by schools, libraries, councils, museums, universities, workplaces and families to make science visible, practical and engaging.
Planning tip: The best National Science Week activities are hands-on, clear and accessible. Avoid turning it into a jargon-heavy lecture unless the audience is specifically technical.
National Science Week is especially useful for schools because it falls in Term 3 for most Australian states and territories. It can support curriculum links, inquiry learning, student projects and science career awareness.
| School level | Useful activity type | Planning note |
|---|---|---|
| Early years and primary | Simple experiments, nature walks, weather activities, space themes, insects, plants and hands-on discovery | Keep activities visual, safe and easy to explain. |
| Upper primary | Science fairs, design challenges, coding, robotics, sustainability projects and student presentations | Let students ask questions and test ideas. |
| High school | STEM careers, research talks, lab demonstrations, data projects, engineering challenges and science communication | Connect activities with subject choices and future pathways. |
| Whole school | Assemblies, displays, science trivia, guest speakers, lunchtime experiments and family STEM nights | Publish dates early so families and staff know what is happening. |
School planning point: Schools should check the official National Science Week theme and resources each year, then match activities to age level, safety requirements and local curriculum goals.
National Science Week can cover almost any science topic. The strongest pages and programs answer practical questions parents, teachers and communities already search for.
Stargazing nights, moon phases, telescopes, satellites, Mars missions, Australian space industry and classroom space projects.
Biodiversity, water, weather, climate, recycling, local species, ecosystems, sustainability and energy use.
Human body activities, nutrition, medical research, public health, brain science, exercise science and health careers.
Bridge building, robotics, coding, circuits, simple machines, 3D printing and design challenges.
AI, coding, cybersecurity, data visualisation, mapping, sensors, digital technology and problem solving.
Australian scientists, First Nations knowledge, agriculture, marine science, geology, bushfire science and Antarctic research.
National Science Week sits alongside other school, library, environmental and community awareness events in the Australian calendar.
Usually held in August. Focuses on reading, children’s books, libraries, authors and school costume days.
Usually held in March from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time. Focuses on environmental awareness.
Held on the first Sunday in March. Focuses on community clean-ups and reducing waste.
This site mainly covers public holidays, but National Science Week belongs in the events and observances calendar because Australians search for dates, school activities, STEM events, public talks and community science programs.
| Event or holiday | Usual timing | Public holiday in Australia? | Why people search it |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Week | August | No, not a public holiday | School activities, public science events, STEM programs and community workshops. |
| Book Week | Usually August | No, not a public holiday | School dates, costume ideas, themes, book parades and library activities. |
| School holidays | Varies by state | Not public holidays, but schools close | Term breaks, family planning, travel and childcare. |
| King’s Birthday | Varies by state | Public holiday in most states and territories | State holiday dates and long weekend planning. |
Site structure recommendation: Keep this page as a top-level event page at /national-science-week/. Do not make it a child page of public holidays, because National Science Week is not a public holiday. Link it from the /events/ hub and school-related event pages.
Use these pages to plan around Australian events, school activities, observances, public holidays and long weekends.
National Science Week is held annually in August.
National Science Week 2026 is expected to run from Saturday 15 August to Sunday 23 August 2026. Check the official National Science Week website before publishing final event details.
No. National Science Week is not a public holiday in Australia.
National Science Week celebrates science, technology, engineering, maths, research, innovation and discovery through school, community and public events.
Schools, universities, libraries, museums, councils, workplaces, community groups, families and individuals can take part.
Schools may run experiments, science fairs, STEM challenges, guest talks, displays, robotics, coding, sustainability activities and student projects.
National Science Week may have annual themes, school resources and national projects. Check the official website each year for confirmed details.
Some events are free and others may require tickets, bookings or registration. Check the individual event listing or organiser.
No. National Science Week and Book Week are separate events, although both are usually held in August and both are popular with schools.
No. National Science Week should be a top-level event page at /national-science-week/ because it has direct search demand and is not a child of a public holiday. It should be linked from the /events/ hub.