Maker Faire Shanghai Family Festival Brings Hands-On Discovery to The Central on the Bund

Our member Quokka is organizing the Maker Faire Shanghai Family Festival, taking place on 31 October and 1 November 2026 from 10:00 to 17:00 at The Central on the Bund. Co-organized with the Tongji University College of Design and Innovation, the weekend is built around a simple idea: giving children aged 2 to 14 the chance to build, try and discover things for themselves, together with their families.

The programme centers on hands-on workshops, science experiments, build-and-tinker stations and technology and VR experiences. The festival places the emphasis on real tools, real materials and learning by doing, offering a screen-free day where children can experiment, make mistakes and try again, while meeting science, technology and large-scale art installations they rarely come across in a normal week.

The festival also gives parents a chance to connect with the education community. Several international schools will be on site, including our member Lycée Français de Shanghai who is a gold sponsor of the event. Families can talk directly to teachers, see real student work and ask about curriculum, class size, admissions timelines and extracurricular activities, all in one afternoon.

Single tickets are priced at ¥65 in pre-sale and ¥80 at the door, family tickets for three people at ¥180 in pre-sale and ¥220 at the door, and children under 1 meter enter for free. Most workshops and activities are included in the ticket, while food, drinks and selected workshops carry an additional cost.

Interested in participating? Scan the QR code below and register!