Leiden buzzes with art and science during Days of Art&Science, a multifaceted festival week from 15 to 21 September 2025
Leiden, 1 September 2025 - From 15 to 21 September, Leideen will once again transform into the stage for the third edition of Days of Art&Science: a versatile festival week that unites the worlds of art and science. The programme ranges from conferences and lectures to festivals such as Nacht van Ontdekkingen and the children's festival Brave Young Minds. This diversity makes the Days of Art&Science appealing to many audiences, from academics to families. "It is precisely the encounter between art and science that sparks innovative ideas we need to prepare society for the future", says organiser Alexander Mouret.
Brave New World Conference
What does the future of optimism look like in an age of climate crises, technological disruption, and geopolitical uncertainty? International speakers including Haroon Sheikh, Sumit Paul-Choudhury, Payal Arora, and Femke Nijboer explore the role of optimism in our society. What inspires hope, how does optimism function psychologically and socially, and is there still room for it in a turbelent world?
Nacht van Ontdekkingen
On Saturday evening, Leiden transforms into one large discovery festival. With 100 acts spread across 10 venues, visitors can wander between lectures, art installations, music, theatre, and experiments. Expect juggling robots, dissected conspiracy theories, interactive fashion, AI Bullshit Bingo, clever Neanderthals, geese aspiring to be astronauts, and much more. A night where science and art merge into an explosian of imagination, inlcuding contributions from Roxane van Iperen, Lisa Loeb, Andy Miah, Anouk Wipprecht, Marijn Markus, Andrew Sorensen, Gus Walker, NTR Focus, Quantum Delta Leiden, SETUP, and others.
Brave Young Minds
Especially for the youngest generation, a children's festival will be hosted at Rijksmuseum Booerhaave. Here, kids discover how science works through play: how to make a cloud, why biodiversity matters, and what fear does to us. The festival aims to spark curiosity and imagination, introducting children to scientific themes in a playful way.
Beyond the Canvas Symposium
For those seeking deeper insights into the relationship between art and science, the Beyond the Canvas symposium will take place at Museum De Lakenhal. International experts in the field of art and science share their experiences and visions. Central question: how do we create the ideal conditions for art and science to truly strengthen one another? Including contributions from Tere Badia, Veronika Liebl, Lucas Evers, Frans Snik, and Caterina Benincasa.
Wavelength
A unique festival at pop venue De Nobel where the power of sound and music takes centre stage. Scientists and artists together explore how music affects the brain, the body, and emotions. From music therapy to artistic experiments, Wavelength demonstrates how sound can be a powerful medium for communication, healing, and creative expression. Including contributions from Stefanie Egedy, Rebecca Schaeffer, Edwin van der Heide, and Fernando Knof.