Cambridge Wide Open Week (CWOW) returns 11–19 June 2026, sharing the spirit and buzz of the week-long, interactive festival with Oxford and London for the very first time.
The Cambridge-Oxford-London corridor is widely regarded as one of the most productive life sciences clusters in the world, home to hundreds of biotechnology companies, globally recognised research institutions and a rapidly expanding venture capital ecosystem.
Building on last year’s event, which attracted more than 4,000 attendees across 25+ venues and 200+ sessions, CWOW 2026 will convene investors, entrepreneurs, academics, policymakers, operators, the wider biotech/techbio community and residents alike, to explore the ecosystems and engage directly with the participants and ideas driving innovation.
Founded on a Combined Ways of Working approach and ethos, the event tells the live story of one of the world’s most vibrant life sciences ecosystems, while showcasing the people and ideas shaping the future of life sciences.
This year’s programme kicks off with curated one-day Venture Tours in Oxford and London, before culminating in the week-long festival of innovation across Cambridge. The Venture Tours are designed to bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, corporate investors, financial institutions, ecosystem influencers, big pharma, founders, operators and the wider community, offering curated access to the UK’s emerging breakthroughs and investment-ready ventures.
Prashant Shah, co-founder and co-CEO of the o2h Group, which organises the annual event, said “We are delighted to be extending our ‘week of life science at the home of life-sciences’ to include a day in London and Oxford. It’s a bottom-up, community-driven endeavour that tells the live story of the people, places and companies that make up these buzzing ecosystems to those that live/work inside or outside these clusters.”
Dona Ardeman, Partner at Mills & Reeve, a key sponsor and backer of the initiative since 2022, added: “Mills & Reeve loves supporting CWOW because it brings people together, sparks curiosity and celebrates innovation across our region, whilst reminding us why community-led ideas genuinely matter to our future.”
Having been involved in CWOD since its inception, I continue to be impressed by the scale of activity and enthusiasm it has inspired. It’s a powerful reminder that joining forces and wide-opening doors is what truly builds a vibrant ecosystem — and I’m very proud to be part of the Cambridge one.”
The innovation exploration begins in Oxford on Thursday 11 June, with a one-day Venture Tour showcasing portfolio companies and investors including Oxford Science Enterprises, Oxford Venture Angels + Longwall Ventures, Oxford University Innovation and Oxford Technology Management, culminating in an evening drinks reception hosted by the Oxfordshire Bioscience Network (OBN).
The following day, Friday 12 June, the innovation journey moves to London for another Venture Tour featuring investors and venture platforms including KQ Labs at The Francis Crick Institute, Mercia Ventures, LifeArc Ventures and the Pioneer Accelerator, alongside networking with the capital’s life sciences investment community hosted by Pioneer Group at the Victoria House.
The following week, Monday 15 June - Friday 19 June, the focus shifts to Cambridge - for a week-long exploration of life sciences in the UK’s life sciences capital.
The first two days of the Cambridge programme (Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 June) will centre on Venture Tours, featuring investor showcases from leading Cambridge innovation and venture platforms including Amadeus Capital Partners, Cambridge Innovation Capital, Cambridge Angels, Cambridge Enterprise + Parkwalk, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Accelerate Cambridge, o2h Ventures + Meltwind, Cancer Research Horizons, BioSpark, Innovate UK Business Growth and Babraham Research Campus.
Wednesday 17 June is designated ‘Cambridge Wide Open Day’ (CWOD) where organisations across the Cambridge life sciences ecosystem open their doors to visitors, offering rare, behind-the-scenes access to laboratories. From local communities and families through to international investors and researchers, visitors are encouraged to explore one of the world’s leading life sciences ecosystems and meet the people behind global innovation breakthroughs. There are opportunities to explore the research campuses, startups and innovation hubs through talks, tours, demos, investor pitches, workshops and masterclasses. The day will also include a Creative Disruption Forum (topic tbc) and the much-loved Aline Charpentier, Science Strategy and Innovation Lead, Wellcome Genome Campus, said “The Wellcome Genome Campus is thrilled to be opening its door to the Cambridge and wider UK life science community on CWOD. This comes at a pivotal time for us, with significant expansion plans underway that support our ambition to be a global destination for world leading institutes, businesses and talent across genomics, biodata, health data and data science.”
Summer Garden Party, providing opportunities for networking across the innovation community.
On Thursday 18 June, TechBio, biotech and pharma are firmly on the agenda with the BIA TechBio X event and the AstraZeneca Exchange, both taking place at The Discovery Centre on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The day will also feature a second Creative Disruption Forum and the Conexen Life Sciences Community Event, bringing together founders, investors and industry leaders.
The closing day of CWOW on Friday 19 June will focus on inspiring the next generation of scientists with a Community Day led by Cambridge-based social enterprise, Form the Future, connecting local students with professionals from across the life sciences sector, and featuring the ever-popular speed networking event.
Alongside the core programme, CWOW will feature an eclectic mix of fringe events, networking receptions, lab tours, evening drinks, community activities and the annual Biotech Bikers ride, bringing together the global life sciences community on every level.
CWOW 2026 is supported by a distinguished group of sponsors and partners with Mills & Reeve serving as title sponsor. Additional supporters include Keltie, FORA, Appleyard Lees, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Deloitte, ET Capital and Cambridge Management Consulting.
Organisations wishing to participate, host events or sponsor the programme still have opportunities to be involved. Interested organisations should email [email protected] by 30 April to be included in the programme.
For more information on attending, visit www.cambridgewideopenweek.com
