Physics Day 2026: Hands-on research at the University of Würzburg

06/30/2026

On 11 July, the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Würzburg is hosting a Physics Day at the Hubland campus. From quizzes to an escape room and lab tours, the programme offers exciting insights for everyone.

At Physics Day, guests can look forward to exciting live shows and experiments. (Image: Daniel Peter)

The Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Würzburg (JMU) is hosting a Physics Day on the Hubland campus on Saturday 11 July 2026, featuring talks, hands-on experiments, workshops and laboratory tours. The event begins at 10 am and runs until 5 pm. It is open to everyone and free of charge – no registration is required. The venue is the central campus lawn behind the Central Library at Hubland Süd.

This year’s event marks a special anniversary: 125 years ago, the Würzburg physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize in history for the discovery of X-rays – an honour for a scientific breakthrough that revolutionised medicine. The organisers are using this historic event as an opportunity to bring the world of science to life in an accessible way.

Experience research, conduct your own experiments

More than 20 stands invite visitors to discover physical phenomena in a playful way. Highlights include stands on doughnut physics, quantum sounds, radio astronomy and high-tech applications of light. In the ‘Kitty Q Gaming Lounge’ run by the ctd.qmat Cluster of Excellence, science becomes a gaming experience, whilst elsewhere, modern VR headsets transport guests into virtual laser laboratories or the world of black holes.

Visitors can chat to researchers and ask questions, get to the bottom of X-rays in the X-ray van, and learn more about the famous prize and its Würzburg laureates in the exhibition ‘Outstanding! 14 Würzburg Nobel Laureates’.

Visitors can also take a peek behind the scenes of research: on laboratory tours, guests gain fascinating insights into current scientific projects right on site. Anyone fancying a bit of puzzle-solving and experimentation can take part in workshops such as ‘From the Rainbow to the X-ray Image’ or work together to solve puzzles in the escape room ‘In Search of Röntgen’s Lost Formula’. A fun lab also awaits the youngest guests.

Big physics quiz and live radio play

There’s plenty on offer in the lecture theatre too. Whether it’s the live radio play ‘Alice in Quantumland’ with a brand-new episode, a performance by the Science Birds, ‘The Big Physics Quiz’ for the whole family, or insights into Röntgen’s time here in Würzburg – with such a varied programme, there’s something for everyone.

“With Physics Day, we want to show just how exciting, diverse and socially relevant modern physics is. Our aim is to inspire people of all ages to take an interest in research and to engage with them in conversation,” says Jens Pflaum, Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, about the event. “Our Physics Day in 2024 and last year’s Long Night of (Quantum) Physics both impressively demonstrated just how great the interest is. We look forward to welcoming lots of visitors again in 2026!”