International Festival of Ideas brings back the bold conversations

Can you be a religious atheist? Can mums have it all? Who rules the world? On October 14-18, the Leeds International Festival of Ideas will see voices from across the worlds of culture, politics, science, health, technology, and the arts take on these provocative questions and more. In the eyes of festival director Martin Dickson, the aim of the festival is simple: leave audiences feeling inspired, educated, and hopeful.

- by Jennifer Cartwright

In 2017, the Leeds Business Improvement District created the first Leeds International Festival, an event series to showcase art and culture from across the region. But when the Covid pandemic struck, organisers began to reconsider what the city needs. In 2021, they launched the first Leeds International Festival of Ideas.

Martin said: "We felt people have been lacking in conversation and interaction.

"The idea came to actually just cut it down to the core of the conversation of bringing people together to talk about things that we're all talking about and challenged by and worried by."

The new festival arrived in the city in 2021 with nine events, 29 speakers, and 2,000 audience attendees, all eager to discuss the questions of today. Now, the Leeds International Festival of Ideas has become an annual event in Leeds and grown year on year. With 12 events, 47 speakers, and an expected audience turnout of 4,500 people, 2025 is set to be the biggest edition of LIFI yet.