This year’s festival feature, “Us,” celebrates the human side of science and invites every Wisconsinite to see themselves as part of discovery, curiosity, and innovation. The festival’s 2026 feature logo brings this idea to life through a collection of hidden details and symbols waiting to be explored. Inside the magnifying glass, a human face is reflected, representing the idea of “seeing yourself” in science and recognizing that science belongs to everyone.

Look closely and you’ll see a colorful pattern spiraling through the center of the magnifying glass. This is actually a visual representation of the human genome sequence created by data scientists. The human genome is the complete set of genetic instructions (DNA) that helps shape who we are, influencing everything from our development to our unique traits. These colorful dashes highlight this year’s theme of “Us” by reminding us that while every person is different, we are also deeply connected through the biology we share.

Hidden in the genome sequence is a honey bee, a nod to the Wisconsin Science Festival mascot, Beesly. Honey bees are essential pollinators, supporting ecosystems and food systems across Wisconsin. The honey bee also offers a fun connection to us as human “bee-ings,” celebrating what it means to be human and belong within our communities. Another detail tucked into the design is the outline of Wisconsin, representing the statewide spirit of the festival and the communities, researchers, students, and curious minds across Wisconsin who make it possible.

The final hidden symbol within the magnifying glass is an iris, the part of the eye that controls how much light enters and allows us to see the world around us, connecting both human perception and the ways scientific research helps us better understand vision and health. Surrounding these details is a galaxy swirl in the background, expanding the idea of “Us” beyond ourselves and toward our place in the larger universe. Our Milky Way Galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars, and the feature logo’s galactic swirl reminds us that on a cosmic scale, we are all connected to something bigger.