Galway is set to host one of the most engaging science outreach events of the year later this month, as the Pint of Science Festival returns to the city from 18 to 20 May 2026. Known for bringing cutting-edge research out of laboratories and into relaxed, social settings, the festival sponsored by ATU, will once again transform a selection of Galway pubs and cultural venues into informal lecture spaces where the public can hear directly from scientists working at the forefront of discovery.
Co-directed by respected ATU academic Dr Trish O’Connel, the festival is firmly established as a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar, and follows a simple but effective format: short, accessible talks delivered in the evening, typically beginning at 7pm, followed by discussion and audience questions. In Galway, four venues will host events across the three nights—The Hole in the Wall, Massimo, The Ol’ 55 Bar, and Club Áras na nGael—each offering a different thematic strand of the programme.
Proceedings begin on Monday, 18 May, with a wide-ranging opening night that reflects the breadth of modern scientific research. At The Hole in the Wall, audiences can attend Nature Uncovered: From Venom to DNA at 19:00, a session expected to explore the hidden mechanisms of life, from molecular biology to the surprising applications of natural toxins. At the same time, Massimo will host Hidden Worlds: Seeds, Breath, Land, and Livestock, focusing on environmental and agricultural science and examining how ecosystems interact with human activity. Meanwhile, The Ol’ 55 Bar will present Hidden Signals: From Brain Chemistry to Superhuman Sight, also at 19:00, offering insights into neuroscience and the ways in which the brain processes and interprets the world around us.
The programme continues on Tuesday, 19 May, again with simultaneous events beginning at 19:00 across the three main venues. At The Hole in the Wall, Mind, Body, and Belonging: Health, Experience, and Identity will examine the intersection of biology, psychology and social experience in shaping human wellbeing. Over at Massimo, Strange Strategies: Survival, Sex, and Parasites promises a lively and accessible look at evolutionary biology, highlighting the often bizarre methods organisms use to survive and reproduce. At The Ol’ 55 Bar, Inside the Body: Engineering Life, Repair, and Innovation will turn attention to advances in medicine and bioengineering, showcasing how scientific developments are reshaping healthcare and treatment.
The final night, Wednesday, 20 May, maintains the festival’s focus on forward-looking themes. At The Hole in the Wall, Intelligence and Care: Technology, Health, and Human Futures begins at 19:00 and will explore the growing role of technology—including artificial intelligence—in shaping healthcare and human interaction. At the same time, The Ol’ 55 Bar hosts Building the Future: Materials, Mobility, and Resilient Systems, a session examining how innovation in engineering and sustainable design could help address global challenges. The Galway programme concludes slightly later that evening at Club Áras na nGael, where Oíche Ólaíochta begins at 19:30, offering a culturally focused event that blends science communication with Irish language and community engagement.
Organisers say the aim of the festival is to make science accessible to everyone, regardless of background or prior knowledge, and to encourage open conversation between researchers and the public. Talks are designed to be engaging and jargon-free, often incorporating humour and storytelling alongside serious scientific content. The informal setting plays a key role in this approach, helping to break down barriers and create an atmosphere where audiences feel comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas.
With multiple events taking place at the same time each evening, attendees are encouraged to plan ahead and choose the topics that most interest them. Tickets, which are typically released in the weeks leading up to the festival, tend to sell quickly as demand has grown steadily in recent years.
As Galway prepares to welcome another edition of Pint of Science, the festival is expected to draw a diverse audience—from students and researchers to curious members of the public—eager to explore everything from the inner workings of the human body to the future of technology. In a city renowned for its sociable culture, the opportunity to discuss science over a drink continues to prove a winning formula, offering both insight and entertainment in equal measure.
Tickets for all listed events can be booked via the festival website at www.pintofscience.ie
