Guyancourt’s Fête de la Science 2026 runs 2,12 October with workshops, rockets and rap
Picture a rocket launch, workshops on bacteria and a scientific rap show, all free and right on your doorstep. That is exactly what the Fête de la Science 2026 has in store for Guyancourt, running from 2 to 12 October, in a town that has made research and innovation its very identity.
Guyancourt, a city built for science
Few towns in the Yvelines embody the spirit of the Fête de la Science 2026 as naturally as Guyancourt. Over just a few decades, the town has undergone a radical transformation: from a rural village, it has grown into a major university, scientific and economic hub in Île-de-France. That shift accelerated from the 1970s onwards, with the birth of the new town.
Yet the commune has not erased its past. Around the church of Saint-Victor and several old farmsteads, traces of local history remain. Now part of the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines urban community, Guyancourt is home to major higher-education institutions, research centres and innovative companies. That backdrop makes this national event far more than a neighbourhood activity.
What the 35th edition has in store for the public
This year, the Fête de la Science marks its 35th edition under the theme “Saveurs savantes” (“Learned Flavours”), which highlights the connections between food, health, the environment and innovation. Across France, workshops, visits, talks and hands-on experiences are organised free of charge to show that science is part of everyday life. In Guyancourt, two main venues are driving the programme.
First, the Observatoire de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (OVSQ) opens its doors on two separate days. Then, the médiathèque Jean Rousselot offers more unexpected formats, blending urban culture with science communication.
The Observatory: rockets, planets and bacteria for all ages
The OVSQ has structured its programme around two distinct audiences. On Saturday 10 October, children aged 6 to 12 are welcomed by registration, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Four 40-minute workshops run back to back, and a snack offered by the Observatory rounds off the afternoon. On Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October, slots are reserved for school groups, also by registration.
On Sunday 11 October, it is the open-doors day for the general public, no booking required, from 10 am to 6 pm. The workshops last 40 minutes each and cover an impressively wide range of topics.
- Amateur radio club SQY and Lidar exploration
- Rocket launch
- Space exploration of nearby planets, in search of life and water
- Spectroscopy as a tool for planetary research
- How the climate works
- Planetarium, shared garden and workshops on bacteria
The breadth of subjects is genuinely striking: in a single day, a visitor can move from astronomy to microbiology, from community gardening to atmospheric physics. For families and curious minds alike, it is a concrete way to grasp the full scope of contemporary research.
At the médiathèque Jean Rousselot: rap, biology and beer
The médiathèque Jean Rousselot, meanwhile, offers two very different events in format, both on Saturday 3 October. The first is a one-woman show titled Lady Pipette, Rap ta Science, written and performed by Yaëlle Wormser. Blending stand-up, rap and science communication, this PhD student at the Institut Pasteur recounts her daily life as a biology researcher: the experiments, the failures, the doubts and the small victories. She weaves together flow, humour and self-deprecation to make science more accessible and more human. The show runs from 4 pm to 5 pm, for ages 11 and up, free entry.
Straight after, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, a talk titled “De l’orge à la bière, toute une alchimie” (“From Barley to Beer: a Full Alchemy”) traces the history of the drink from its origins more than 15,000 years ago. The presentation walks through every stage of brewing: the action of enzymes, the role of hops, the work of yeast and the conversion of starch into fermentable sugars. This event is aimed at ages 15 and over, free entry.
All told, the Fête de la Science 2026 in Guyancourt delivers a programme that goes well beyond the usual demonstrations. From a rocket launch at the Observatory to a biology rap show at the médiathèque, every format sets out to prove that science can be experienced differently, with rhythm, humour and sincerity. For residents of the Yvelines, it is a rare chance to see a town that bridges heritage, knowledge and cutting-edge research in a whole new light.
