This weekend, the Agóra Science Experience Center in Debrecen will open the doors of its new Light Island attraction to the public. On the occasion of the center’s 11th birthday, visitors can enjoy special light-themed programs and discounted tickets. The Agóra app will also launch during this celebratory weekend, offering not only essential information but also exciting games for visitors.
“In Debrecen, we are building a knowledge-based society, and when Agóra opened eleven years ago, this goal guided the founders,” emphasized Lajos Barcsa, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen, at the opening of the Light Island. He added that the past decade demonstrates that the science center has fulfilled its mission of sparking interest in the natural sciences. Dr. Viktória Borbélyné Bacsó, Managing Director of Agóra, highlighted that the center continues to expand its educational offerings to respond to new challenges emerging in Debrecen.
The Agóra Science Experience Center first welcomed visitors on February 10, 2016, and since then has become a key institution in the region, with over 400,000 participants in its programs over the past eleven years. As the only institution of its kind in eastern Hungary, its main goal from the start has been to popularize the natural sciences, provide science education in a fun and creative way, and inspire children and young people toward scientific and engineering careers.
Every year, Agóra celebrates its birthday with a themed event. This year, light will be at the center of the programs on February 7–8, 2026. As part of the “Bright Birthday at Agóra” series, the Light Island, a new interactive attraction, opens to the public. In this specially designed dark room, visitors can try out interactive light-related exhibits, explore how color perception works through playful tasks, and watch a 180-degree panoramic projection showing the history of Debrecen from its founding to today.
During the celebratory weekend, the Agóra app will also launch. It includes key visitor information and programs, as well as continually updated games. Registered users can explore Agóra tours, including a Solar System tour along the Agóra bridge and a digital adventure to explore the Interactive Space. In spring, the app will also allow discovery of the Botanical Garden. Registered users can collect points with every visit, which can later be redeemed for discount coupons.
The Bright Birthday at Agóra program will also feature presentations showing how to make fire appear green and how many light points can be seen in the night sky. Visitors can interact with musical lightning, build light-sensing alarms, or guide Agóra’s most skillful and cutest glowing robots along the track. Special birthday programs are available with discounted tickets.
Ticket price: 1,900 HUF per person for both children and adults on Saturday and Sunday.
