Bug Day 2026
Celebrate all things creepy-crawly at Bug Day 2026! Meet live insects, learn from experts, and discover the incredible world of bugs through hands-on activities.
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When
10am – 3pm, Saturday 14 February 2026
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Where
Atrium Level 1
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Price
Free
We're supporting the kahuwai (black tunnelweb spider) in the 2026 New Zealand Bug of the Year contest—come along to learn about these fascinating creatures and meet local bug experts from the Museum, the Otago Entomological Society, and the University of Otago.
-10am – 3pm: Stalls and Bug Makerspace (Atrium 1), Bug Gallery Trail (Whole Museum) -10.30am: Frog Feeding (Atrium 1) and Bearded Dragon Feeding (Tropical Forest) -11am: What's That Spider? (Barclay Theatre) and First Flight (Tropical Forest) -12.30pm – 3pm: Bristle Bot workshops (Hutton Theatre – Bookings Required) -11am – 1pm: Face Painting (Atrium 1) and Spider Drinks (Museum Reserve) -12pm: Bug Illustration Workshop (Barclay Theatre) -12.30pm: Storytelling with Dunedin Public Libraries (Southern Land, Southern People) -1.30pm: Can Bugs Really Do That? (Barclay Theatre) -2pm: Mini Beasts of the Forest (Tropical Forest) and Bug Spotlight Tour (Whole Museum) -2.30pm: Storytelling with Dunedin Public Libraries (Southern Land, Southern People) and The Social Lives of Spiders (Barclay Theatre)
Enjoy a day full of hands-on activities and vote for the black tunnelweb spider to be New Zealand’s Bug of the Year for 2026!
Please note that some of these events are paid or part of Science Centre and Tropical Forest admission.
