Beakerhead is taking over Calgary with three days of science programming

Beakerhead is making its return to Calgary this November with Petri Dish, a three-day festival of science, experiments, and live entertainment. The festival will take place at the Telus Spark Science Centre and will feature programming for both kids and adults.

From opening night to the final day, here’s what’s happening at Petri Dish.

What to expect at Petri Dish

What is Beakerhead?

If you’ve lived in Calgary for a while, you might remember Beakerhead. The festival first launched in 2013 and gave Calgarians a chance to experience science outside a traditional classroom or museum.

In 2025, Beakerhead announced that the festival would not run that year, leaving locals waiting to see what would happen next.

This year, Beakerhead is returning to Calgary with Petri Dish, a new science and arts festival produced by Telus Spark Science Centre in association with the University of Calgary.

What is Petri Dish?

According to organizers, Petri Dish is a festival focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, also known as STEAM.

Rather than focusing on traditional exhibits alone, the festival features several different areas of programming, including live experiments, stage presentations and activities designed for all ages.

What can I do on Friday?

Petri Dish will kick off on Friday, Nov. 6, with Beakernight, an adults-only event where you can enjoy live performances, demonstrations and themed drinks throughout the night.

What can I do on Saturday and Sunday?

The majority of the Petri Dish programming will take place at Telus Spark over the weekend.

Here’s what you can check out throughout the weekend:

• Live Cultures
  • You can get involved with hands-on experiments and watch live demonstrations throughout the festival.
• Curious Career Fair
  • You’ll have the chance to hear from people with unconventional careers who created their own job titles, with short talks focused on the different paths they’ve taken.
• Baby Beakerhead
  • The Creative Kids Museum will have activities specifically designed for children ages zero to eight, so if you’ve got kids, this is the place to be.
• Seven Wonders of Science
  • This separate Saturday event will happen at the University of Calgary from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Seven researchers will present their work and answer questions, with topics including space science, artificial intelligence, paleontology, biomedical engineering, and ocean science.
• Petri Dish Main Stage
  • Head to the first-floor atrium for the festival’s bigger presentations, including live performances and talks.

When is Petri Dish happening?

Petri Dish runs from Friday, Nov. 6 to Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. On Friday, the event runs from 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday offers a full 12 hours of programming from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday wraps up the festival with programming from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much are tickets?

Ticket prices vary depending on which day you want to attend. Friday’s Beakernight is $39 for non-members and $20 for Telus Spark members, and guests must be 18 or older.

Saturday’s Petri Dish programming is completely free, with tickets available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. On Sunday, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages three to 17.

Where is Telus Spark?

Petri Dish’s Main festival takes place at Telus Spark Science Centre in northeast Calgary.

If you’re driving, on-site parking is available for $13 per day through Calgary Parking’s ParkPlus system. And if you’re taking transit, you can catch the Blue Line CTrain at Zoo Station, a short walk from Telus Spark.

This will be Calgary’s first Beakerhead weekend in a while, so grab your friends and see what the new festival format is all about.

Petri Dish by Beakerhead

When: Saturday, Nov. 7 to Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026
Time: Friday, 6 p.m. to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Telus Spark Science Centre – 212 St. George’s Dr. NE, Calgary, Alta.
Cost: Friday: $39 for non-members, $20 for members; Saturday: Free; Sunday: Adults: $10, Kids: $5

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