Family & Kids
Best family-friendly tech and science activities in Johannesburg 2026
There is something quietly brilliant about watching a child’s face light up when a robot moves, a planetarium sky flickers to life, or a fossil suddenly feels real instead of something from a textbook. In 2026, Joburg has leaned fully into that magic, offering families a growing mix of science, technology, and hands-on learning that feels more like play than school.
Across the city and its surrounds, discovery centres, digital domes, illusion museums, and world heritage sites are turning weekends into curiosity-driven adventures. The best part is that many of these experiences are indoors, which makes them a lifesaver during Highveld storms or those blazing summer afternoons.
Where science comes alive for kids
If there is one place that still defines Joburg’s science scene, it is the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown. Known as the largest science centre in Southern Africa, it packs in hundreds of interactive exhibits covering robotics, coding, engineering, and physics. Holiday programmes and live demonstrations often turn a simple visit into a full day of experimentation, with kids building, testing, and learning by doing rather than just watching.
Not far away in Braamfontein, the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome has reshaped the classic planetarium experience into something far more immersive. Families can settle in for full-dome shows that explore space, stars, and the wider universe through high-tech visuals. Child-friendly screenings make it easy for younger visitors to follow along, while older kids get a deeper look at astronomy and future space exploration.
Over at Wits University, the Origins Centre adds another layer to the learning journey by focusing on human history in Africa. Interactive displays, audio guides, and family activities such as fossil digging sessions help children connect the dots between ancient technology, archaeology, and the story of our earliest ancestors.
Mind-bending fun that sneaks in real science
Rosebank’s Museum of Illusions has become a favourite for families who want something educational that still feels playful. Optical tricks, holograms, and perception-based exhibits quietly teach principles of geometry and neuroscience while kids try to figure out why the room suddenly looks upside down.
For a more modern, high-energy spin on edutainment, Ultra World at Cradlestone Mall blends technology with sensory play. Interactive smash walls, LED drawing spaces, and tech-driven games are designed for children who learn best when they can move, touch, and experiment.
Escape rooms and puzzle venues around Joburg, including popular spots in the east of the city, also tap into the same idea. They challenge kids to use logic, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in ways that feel like an adventure rather than a lesson.
Big history, real fossils, and future engineers
Few outings match the scale of the Cradle of Humankind. A trip to Maropeng turns science into a story about where we come from. Interactive exhibitions explain evolution and geology, while guided experiences bring fossil discoveries to life. Access to the Sterkfontein Caves can change depending on conditions, so families should check ahead before planning a visit. The underground boat experience at the visitor centre is often the moment children remember long after the day ends.
Closer to home in the south, the James Hall Museum of Transport offers a surprisingly engaging look at how engineering has shaped everyday life. From animal-drawn vehicles to early electric cars, the collection gives budding engineers a chance to see how technology has evolved over time.
Even the Adler Museum of Medicine in Parktown adds a different angle, exploring how health science and medical technology have progressed through the decades.
Events and experiences that keep the curiosity going
Large-scale events also play their part in keeping young minds switched on. The Rand Show in April 2026 includes dedicated technology, gaming, and science zones that mix entertainment with learning. Later in the year, major tech expos in Sandton showcase new innovations, giving older kids a glimpse of the industries shaping their future.
Around the city, venues like Total Ninja and indoor adventure parks are increasingly blending movement with STEM concepts, encouraging problem-solving, coordination, and spatial awareness through physical play.
Why Joburg is quietly becoming a science playground
There has been a noticeable shift in how families spend their weekends. Instead of choosing between fun and education, many parents are looking for places that offer both. Social media is filled with parents sharing clips of kids building robots at Sci-Bono or lying back under the digital night sky at the Dome.
It speaks to something bigger about Johannesburg right now. The city is investing in spaces that prepare children for a tech-driven future while still celebrating deep African history, from ancient fossils to modern innovation.
For families, that means one thing. You can spend a Saturday exploring the origins of humanity, an afternoon bending your brain with optical illusions, and end the weekend watching a simulated trip through the cosmos. In Joburg, learning does not have to feel like homework. It can look a lot like an adventure.
Also read: The secret green spaces Johannesburg locals escape to in 2026
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikT
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Featured Image: Tripadvisor
