The Aftermovie: Thank You For Coming

Over 6,000 people came to Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2026 at Leeds Playhouse last week, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Across five days in the Quarry and Courtyard theatres, LIFI26 brought 56 speakers to Leeds for 14 events. Louis Theroux opened the festival on Tuesday night. Tim Minchin closed it on Saturday, after Ashley James, Samira Ahmed, Afua Hirsch, James O’Brien and Ash Palmisciano asked whether we all belong here.

In between, audiences heard from Elizabeth Day, Chris Packham CBE, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Roman Kemp, Rachel Riley MBE, Tasha Ghouri, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Tulisa Contostavlos, Laura Hamilton and Olivia Bentley, among many others. The conversations covered climate change, suicide prevention and men’s mental health, deafness and music, social media, parenthood, identity and belonging, and the legacy of the 1990s.

This year also saw the launch of LIFI Futures, our expanded programme for young people, with three free events for schools and colleges and a public event hosted by Rachel Riley MBE, tied to Leeds being named the UK’s first City of Maths.

Martin Dickson, Festival Director, said: “Over 6,000 people chose to spend an evening, or several, at Leeds Playhouse talking about the things that matter. That tells you something about this city. Leeds is curious, it’s open and it isn’t afraid of a difficult conversation.”

He added: “Because LIFI is not-for-profit, ticket sales are invested back into the festival for the following year, so everyone who came this year has already helped shape LIFI27.”

What’s next

If you missed a session, or want to revisit one, every event has its own Top Takeaways post here on the LIFI Journal, with highlights, further reading and things to watch and listen to.

LIFITV also launches this week. Our first guest is Harriet Rose, caught moments after she came off stage from interviewing Louis Theroux. More episodes will follow over the coming weeks.

And planning for LIFI27 starts now. Sign up to the newsletter at leedsintfest.com to be first to hear what’s coming.

LIFI26 is brought to the city by LeedsBID, with Welcome to Leeds as headline partner, supported by AV Matrix, City of Maths, Luminate Education Group, Pinsent Masons, Weightmans and Leeds Playhouse.