Leeds International Festival of Ideas

Conversations that inspire , 6 -10 October, 2026 | #LIFI26 | @leedsplayhouse

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

Missed our news earlier? We've revealed the full #LIFI26 programme of talks and discussions. See who's appearing — and there's still time to sign up for priority access tonight.
https://t.co/GoSvGaED52

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

56 speakers. 5 days. 14 events. Over 6,000 of you.

Thank you for coming to #LIFI26. Here’s the week in one film 🎬

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"We lead with our scars" Tim Minchin

Tim Minchin and Larry Budd closed #LIFI26 on creativity among the chaos 🎹 Thank you, Leeds. See you next year.

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/1rSewFuxm2

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"We don't need to fight for a space, there's a space for all of us" - Ash Palmisciano

Samira Ahmed, Afua Hirsch, Ashley James, James O'Brien and Ash Palmisciano on what it means to belong in Britain today

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/pd2cyKHsZm
#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

“We need an informed discussion of what being a parent is like” – Dr SJ Beard

Laura Hamilton, Dr SJ Beard, Yousra Samir Imran, Betty Mukherjee, Olivia Bentley and Johnny I'Anson on whether kids are still part of the plan 👶

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/BzfGL7zRwN
#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

Day 4 at #LIFI26 ✅

LIFI Futures wrapped, we went back to the 90s, then asked if it’s time to switch off social media 📱

Final day today at Leeds Playhouse 🎟️ https://t.co/rLnjpEKAME

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

📆 FINAL DAY | #LIFI26 📆

We're finishing with whether kids are still part of the plan, a conversation about belonging, and Tim Minchin closing the festival in the Quarry Theatre.

See you soon 👀

📍 Leeds Playhouse
🎟️ Link in bio

#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

“Festival culture changed things in the 90s. Politically there was change in the air too.” - Miranda Sawyer

Miranda Sawyer, Harriet Harman, Judge Jules, Jason McGann and Denise van Outen on what the 90s really did to us 📼

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/F5CMCWRTgw
#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"Concerns around social media have existed for a long time"
Dr Sophie Bishop

Is it time to switch off social media? Joe Tidy, Dr Sophie Bishop, Mark Farid, Katy Leeson and Tulisa debated it. You're reading this on X 📱

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/EkXqtogQKj
#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

Day 3 of #LIFI26 ✅

“Environmental issues are human issues. No matter where you live, you deserve to be able to sit under a nice tree.” – Dr Mya-Rose Craig

“It used to overtake me, but now it’s my superpower.” – Tasha Ghouri

Two days to go

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

📆 DAY FOUR | #LIFI26 📆

Being yourself, switching off, and working out what the 90s actually did to us. Friday's got range.

Here's the menu 👇
📍 Leeds Playhouse
🎟️ Link in bio

#LIFI26 #Leeds

[Laura Reid @YP_LauraR]

Mathematician Rachel Riley: '3,000 people applied for Countdown and with no TV experience, I never expected to get it' https://t.co/FgQH0L24Iq @LeedsIntFest

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"When something happens and a door closes, there's always another way" - Dame Evelyn Glennie

Dame Evelyn Glennie and Tasha Ghouri joined Dr Hannah French on succeeding in a world not built for you🎤

For more 👉 https://t.co/yGfLGIW0MI
#LIFI26 #Welcometoleeds

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"We’re not living through climate change, we’re living through climate breakdown.” – Chris Packham

Chris Packham, Dr Mya-Rose Craig and Juergen Maier CBE on climate fatigue, inaction and what still gives us hope 🌍

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/c04BROISvY
#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

Day 2 of #LIFI26. LIFI Futures, Rachel Riley MBE, the hardest conversation of the week on suicide, and Elizabeth Day. Hectic. Powerful. Three days to go.

Samaritans: 116 123, free, any time.

📍 @LeedsPlayhouse 🎟️ https://t.co/pt1ZKEMa3H

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

📆 DAY THREE | #LIFI26 📆

Halfway already. Today it's careers advice nobody gave you at school, Tasha Ghouri and Dame Evelyn Glennie in conversation, and Chris Packham, Dr Mya-Rose Craig and Juergen Maier on a planet that hasn't stopped burning.

#LIFI26

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

On Day 2 of #LIFI26, Jamil Qureshi hosted an honest and candid discussion with podcaster Elizabeth
Day about the balance between success and failure and how we can be better humans by learning from our mistakes.

https://t.co/lJXrlyCz0U
#LIFI26  #Leedsbid #LeedsPlayhouse

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

Presenter Amy Irons, Andy Airey MBE, Roman Kemp, Donelle Lawrence, Professor Rory O’Connor and Ellie Palma-Cass brought the difficult subject of suicide forward in conversation.
Samaritans: call 116 123

https://t.co/TcUSH0hNrW
#LIFI26 #LeedsBID #Welcometoleeds #Leedsplayhouse

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

"You're not on TV to be nicey nicey. I wanna get out there and do something messed up and weird." – @louistheroux

Harriet Rose turned the tables on Louis to open #LIFI26: 30+ years of the weird, the wonderful and the depraved 🎤

Takeaways 👇
https://t.co/qyvfEfIoqF

[Leeds International Festival of Ideas @LeedsIntFest]

📆 DAY TWO | #LIFI26 📆

A full one today. Apprenticeships, maths, one of the most important conversations of the week, and Elizabeth Day making the case that failure is an option.

Here's what's on 👇

📍 Leeds Playhouse
🎟️ Link in bio

#LIFI26 #Leeds #ConversationsThatInspire

[Caroline Towers @caroline_towers]

Fantastic evening at the opening of @LeedsIntFest 2026 with @louistheroux - I could have listened to those stories for hours! #lifi26