Cambridge Wide Open Week 2026 has unveiled further details of its highly anticipated event, running from 11-19 June, as the life sciences festival expands across the UK’s innovation ‘Golden Triangle’ for the first time.
Keynote speakers for the event include influential names from across innovation, government, investment and media, including former Minister for Science, George Freeman; FT columnist, Gillian Tett OBE; former Business and Industry Minister, Lord Richard Harrington; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Professor Deborah Prentice; Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Paul Bristow; Peter Freeman of Cambridge Homes; Dr Olga Kozlova of Oxford University Innovation; and scientist entrepreneur, Dr Jason Mellad.
Alongside the keynote programme, portfolio companies and ventures will be showcased throughout the Ventures Tour programme, offering investors and ecosystem leaders opportunities to discover some of the UK’s most promising high-growth life science, biotech, techbio, healthtech and medtech companies.
The newly expanded format to include Oxford and London reflects the growing national and international significance of the Cambridge ecosystem and its increasing interconnectedness with the UK’s other two world-leading innovation clusters.
The multi-city programme brings together leading venture funds, accelerators, innovation hubs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders through a series of curated investors breakfasts, venture showcases, networking events and evening drinks receptions.
The Ventures Tours programme – central to the grassroots festival – will provide unparalleled access to investment-ready ventures developing breakthrough technologies and transformative solutions across healthcare, therapeutics, AI and drug discovery.