The Fête de la Science 2026 returns to Cergy (95) with a lineup of activities, workshops and encounters accessible to all audiences. This 35th national edition puts the spotlight on the theme "Savantes Flavors", inviting audiences to explore the links between science, food, taste, health and the environment, from October 2 to 12, 2026.
The history of science in Cergy is closely linked to its multidisciplinary university and engineering schools, such as CY Tech (formerly EISTI), which are actively involved in research and the dissemination of knowledge. Since its creation in 1991, theUniversité de Cergy-Pontoise (now CY Cergy Paris Université) has developed laboratories in a wide variety of fields: physics, geosciences, the environment, computer science, biology, etc. These laboratories, along with the bachelor's and master's degree courses they offer, are all part of theCergy-Pontoise campus. These laboratories, its bachelor's and master's degree courses in the history of science and civilization, and its engineering courses, are all evidence of a lively scientific scene in Cergy, capable of combining research, teaching and outreach.
Stopping by Cergy for the Fête de la Science 2026 is your chance to see science in action, to get hands on with innovations, and to talk with the people who drive it. The Village des Sciences plunges you into the heart of laboratories, with immersive workshops (visual computing, environment, biology, etc.) hosted by CY Tech, designed to illuminate today’s challenges and those we’ll face tomorrow. Plus, the event is free and open to everyone—kids, schools, enthusiasts, and the simply curious—in a welcoming setting in Cergy, where nature, the campus and a modern city come together. In short, Cergy is a place where science is shared, felt, and celebrated—a must-see for this 2026 edition!
Program currently being updated
CY Paris University :
On our plates: the science behind health
Mélanie Deschasaux-Tanguy, a researcher in nutritional epidemiology at Inserm, explores the links between our eating habits and the rise of chronic diseases. Tonight, she invites us to take stock of what science really says about our plates: from Nutri-Score to ultra-processed foods, and the mysteries of the gut microbiome.
A talk designed to separate popular myths from the latest advances in nutrition and public health...
Location: Chênes 1, Simone Veil Conference Room
Booking required.
Participation conditions:
• Conditions: Booking required
Schedule: Thursday, 1 October – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Conference: Gastronomic Imaginaries in Cinema
This conference looks at how French and American cinema stage French gastronomy. By examining the characters, products, and practices that construct these representations, it will show how the culinary imaginaries conveyed by cinema help shape our perception of French cuisine and its prestige around the world.
Venue: Auditorium of the Annie Ernaux House of Research
Booking required.
Participation requirements:
• Conditions: Booking is required
Schedule: Tuesday, October 6 — 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Key axis:
Cergy Science Village
This year the Science Village unfolds on the iconic Axe Majeur site in Cergy, marking the 40th anniversary of this emblematic regional monument. Two events celebrated on the same day, for a day dedicated to discovery, culture, and science.
Researchers, teachers, students and science communicators invite you to share their passion through interactive workshops, demonstrations, experiments, games and hands-on activities, accessible to all audiences. Whether with family, friends, or solo, come talk with those driving research forward and discover science in new ways!
In keeping with the national theme “Savory Science,” this edition will notably shine a light on the links between food, health, the environment and gastronomy, while offering a wide range of activities across many disciplines: artificial intelligence, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, geology, archaeology, social sciences, sport, astronomy and many more.
A friendly, free day to experiment, handle, marvel and celebrate science together in an exceptional setting.
Participation requirements:
• Target audiences: 3–6 years, 6–11 years, 11–15 years, 15–18 years, 18–25 years, 25 years and up
• Conditions: Free admission
Hours: Saturday, October 10 — 10:00 to 18:00
A geological stroll through Cergy
The Cergy-Pontoise urban area grew out of the large urban-planning projects known as “new towns” that began in the mid-1960s to rebalance the population of Île-de-France.
This case is striking because it reflects a deliberate choice by the pioneers: to invest in an exceptional site, the Oise loop, with the aim of developing a city that could one day be a “landscape city.”
The objective of the walk is to show how geology shapes the city. It offers observations of the landscape at multiple scales, from outcrops to the old quarries. We’ll discuss natural terraces arranged on three levels: the Oise and the former quarries at the center of the loop forming a lake at the heart of the city, the Lutetian coarse limestone plateau that was heavily mined as a building stone, and the Hautil hill, site of historic, massive gypsum extraction from which plaster was made. We will emphasize the distribution of water (aquifers) and its role in morphogenesis—the creation of landscapes.
Participation requirements:
• Target audiences: 11–15 years, 15–18 years, 18–25 years, 25 years and up
• Prerequisites: Booking is mandatory
Hours: Sunday, October 11 — 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM
La Lanterne Collective:
Exploring the Sky
What if you looked up at the stars? Step into the inflatable planetarium and let the wonders of the night sky guide you. Planets, constellations, the solar system... An immersive journey to explore the universe and uncover the secrets of the cosmos!
Session duration: 45 minutes, booking essential.
Participation terms:
• Eligible audiences: 3–6 years, 6–11 years, 11–15 years, 15–18 years, 18–25 years, 25 years and up
• Requirements: Booking is mandatory
Opening hours: Saturday, October 10 — 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
School of Industrial Biology:
The EBI sparks scientific curiosity
🔬 Observation of microorganisms in dairy products: uncover the astonishing microscopic life hidden in milk and cheese, and watch the microorganisms transform the foods we rely on every day!
👅 A sensory journey: test your senses and explore how our brain interprets flavors, colors, and sensations to shape our perception of taste.
🧪 Molecular gastronomy: when seaweed makes its way into the kitchen, chemistry becomes deliciously daring — dive into molecular gastronomy and create creations that are as surprising as they are tasty!
Participation requirements:
• Target audiences: 6–11 years, 11–15 years
• Requirements: Advance booking required
Hours: Saturday, October 10 — 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Dates and Opening Time
From October 2, 2026 to October 12, 2026
Location
Cergy-Pontoise
3 Place Olympe de Gouges
95000 Cergy
Route planner
Official website
www.fetedelascience.fr
