Brisbane is set to become the only city other than New York to host the World Science Festival, thanks to the Queensland Museum landing a six-year deal to host the prestigious event.

Notable previous attendees in New York have included Stephen Hawking, Brian Cox, Oliver Sacks, Richard Dawkins, the Coen Brothers, Harrison Ford, Bill Bryson and Alec Baldwin.

Actor and World Science Festival board member Alan Alda is the first headline name announced for the Brisbane.

"It makes me deliriously happy to see the World Science Festival bring art and science together again: and for the World Science Festival Brisbane to bring this unique blend to Australia," he said.