Fantastic Fungi Festival – External
9 May @ 14:00 – 16:00
9 May 2026, 14:00-16:00
Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle Street, LONDON, W1S 4 BS
The Royal Entomological Society will be taking part at the Royal Institution’s Fantastic Fungi Festival, in partnership with Pestival.
The event will include a shortened performance of Zombie Ant Fungus, which explores the science of Ophiocordyceps, the parasitic organism that hijacks the nervous system of ants and turns living bodies into vehicles of its own survival.
Following the performance at the Ri there will be a mini-festival for families, with a range of hands‑on activities and demos from scientists, experts and organisations, highlighting the fascinating world of fungi.
The RES is collaborating with students from the Stroeymeyt Lab at the University of Bristol, to tell the story of how ant colonies respond to fungal infection, through behaviour change and colony architecture adaptation.
