CWOW 2026: Cambridge’s Grassroots Life Sciences Showcase Branches Out to Oxford & London

By Tech East 2 minute read

Cambridge Wide Open Week (CWOW) returns from 11–19 June 2026, expanding beyond Cambridge for the first time to include Oxford and London. The move reflects the growing strength of the Cambridge–Oxford–London corridor, widely recognised as one of the world’s most productive life sciences clusters.

Building on the success of CWOW 2025, which welcomed more than 4,000 attendees across 25+ venues and 200+ sessions, CWOW 2026 will once again bring together investors, founders, academics, policymakers, operators, the wider biotech and techbio community, and local residents. The festival offers rare, behind‑the‑scenes access to the ideas, people and places shaping the future of life sciences.

Founded on a Combined Ways of Working ethos, CWOW is a bottom‑up, community‑driven initiative that tells the live story of one of the world’s most vibrant life science ecosystems.

This year’s programme begins with curated one‑day Venture Tours in Oxford and London, before culminating in the week‑long Cambridge festival. The Venture Tours are designed to connect venture capitalists, angel and corporate investors, founders, operators and ecosystem leaders with the UK’s most exciting, investment‑ready life sciences ventures.

Prashant Shah, co‑founder and co‑CEO of the o2h Group, which organises CWOW, 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.”

Dona Ardeman, Partner at Mills & Reeve, title sponsor of CWOW 2026, 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.”

Alongside its core programme, CWOW 2026 will feature a diverse mix of fringe events, networking receptions, lab tours, community activities and the annual Biotech Bikers ride, bringing together the global life sciences community at every level.

CWOW 2026 is supported by a strong network of sponsors and partners, with Mills & Reeve serving as title sponsor, alongside supporters including Keltie, FORA, Appleyard Lees, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst, Deloitte, ET Capital and Cambridge Management Consulting.