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.