Educating, entertaining and inspiring through public engagement
York Festival of Ideas 2025 Interim Impact Report
Celebrating the power of ideas
"Thanks ... for such a wonderful event. I was very touched by the invitation and by such a turnout too. Please have me back!"
Built on the belief that ideas and education have the power to transform lives and positively impact communities, York Festival of Ideas is one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK.
Founded, led, and coordinated by the University of York, the Festival is an expression of the University’s commitment as a university for public good. It specifically aims to attract wide-ranging audiences - often who do not engage directly with universities - by delivering more than 200 world-class events for free.
The Festival offers a powerful platform for the University to demonstrate the contribution of education - research and ideas - to the economic, social and cultural vitality of York and Yorkshire. In an increasingly polarised world, it uses the Festival to provide safe spaces where diversity in ideas, experiences and solutions can be shared, explored and debated respectfully and thoughtfully.
That willingness of the University to use its convening power to draw diverse audiences together and to provide such a wide-ranging and stimulating programme of free events - spanning many different formats and working with a huge range of partners and sponsors - is the key reason why The Daily Mail University Guide has recognised the University of York as their Community University of the Year 2026.
Held in June each year, the Festival offers an eclectic programme of in-person and online events featuring local, national and international speakers and performers. From world-class talks and performances, to exhibitions, workshops and family events, the programme is carefully curated to educate, entertain and inspire audiences of all ages and interests.
York Festival of Ideas is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors and donors. The 2025 key supporters were the University of York through the Higher Education Innovation Fund, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and LNER. Further generous support was provided by the C and JB Morrell Trust and the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy; the French Embassy in the UK; York Central; The Institution of Engineering and Technology; the Jane Moody Fund; The Burgess Family; Professor Phil Harris and Mrs Irene Harris; the University of York’s Athena Swan Steering Group; and by donors and supporters who wish to remain anonymous.
“[The Festival] is an amazing opportunity to learn - a gift to the community from the University.”
Making waves at York Festival of Ideas
Joan Concannon, Director of York Festival of Ideas, said:
“It was a huge pleasure and privilege to present the 2025 York Festival of Ideas under the banner of ‘Making Waves’ - a theme which perfectly encapsulates the spirit of innovation and dynamism which typifies York.
“Built on an innovative partnership model, the Festival is led by the University of York where we see our primary mission as one of delivering ‘public good’. We are therefore delighted that the University has been named Community University of the Year 2026 by The Daily Mail University Guide, and honoured that the Festival has been recognised as the key contributing factor to this accolade.
“We are also thrilled that much-loved children’s author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, accepted our invitation to become Patron of York Festival of Ideas earlier this year.
“As always, the 2025 Festival attracted an array of inspirational speakers and performers including historians William Dalrymple and Tracy Borman, Guardian columnist John Crace, biologist Kathy Willis, journalists Ros Atkins and Isabel Berwick, Carnatic singer Supriya Nagarajan and BBC Countryfile presenter Tom Heap. As part of our commitment to making our programme as accessible as possible, many of these - and other events - have been recorded and made available on the York Ideas YouTube channel where they can still be enjoyed.
“This year, we were delighted to continue to work with supporters including the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy and the French Embassy in the UK on Festival Focus events. These sponsored collaborations enabled us to interrogate issues of key importance including the security of Europe, AI and the future of work, and the creation of a more equal society. Featuring experts in their fields, Festival Focus events are vital in giving our audience a chance to understand complex issues, to ask questions and to make their voice and views heard.
“And we were also thrilled to welcome onboard new supporters including LNER and York Central, as well as embarking on a new media partnership with The Northern Agenda.
“Planning is already well underway for next year when we’ll be connecting with our local, national and global community through an exploration of ‘Place and Space’. We very much look forward to welcoming you back in 2026.”
“I have attended the Festival of Ideas twice now since moving to York last year and it is truly a highlight of being in the area. To feel and be part of the culture of sharing ideas and free and accessible learning, in particular things that may have never crossed my mind to look into, is a truly beautiful thing.”
BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins explained how to communicate with clarity and confidence at a popular in-person event.
BBC presenter and journalist Ros Atkins explained how to communicate with clarity and confidence at a popular in-person event.
Festival talks held at the Tempest Anderson Hall in York's Museum Gardens attracted large crowds.
Festival talks held at the Tempest Anderson Hall in York's Museum Gardens attracted large crowds.
Initial key festival statistics with further updates expected:
- Over 40,000 attendees to-date (final figure TBC)
- 263 events
- 130 partners and supporters
- 202,187 website views from 129 countries
- 23,127 followers across five social media platforms
York Festival of Ideas once again partnered with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Big Ideas radio programme, which has an estimated 600,000 downloads per month. Their podcast versions of York Festival of Ideas talks are enjoyed by 60,000 regular listeners.
The Festival also partnered with York Pride, which was celebrated by 17,500 people across the city.
Key survey stats:
- 99% would recommend the Festival to a friend
- 98.3% rated the Festival as Excellent, Very Good, or Good
- 68.7% had not attended the Festival before
- 87.4% of respondents said they learnt something new
- 46.9% of respondents said the Festival made them feel connected to a community with shared interests
“The Festival of Ideas brings world-class thinking to York – it inspires curiosity, sparks big conversations, and makes the city a hub for diverse and challenging ideas.”
York Festival of Ideas had attendees from all over the world.
York Festival of Ideas had attendees from all over the world.
Welcoming our new patron
This year, the Festival welcomed Sir Michael Morpurgo as its first Patron. Sir Michael is one of Britain's best loved writers for children with sales of over 35 million copies. And from War Horse to The Mozart Question, his inspiring and moving performances have been a highlight of York Festival of Ideas for the past 11 years.
Not only does his patronage cement the relationship developed over more than a decade, but it recognises our shared commitment to delivering inspiring, quality events to diverse audiences for free.
To mark the acclaimed author’s eighth Festival appearance - and his first as Patron - we invited people from across the UK and beyond to take part in a Michael Morpurgo Celebration Day and share their thoughts about his amazing work and legacy. On the eve of the celebration day, hundreds of people enjoyed a mesmerising programme of poetry and music at My Heart was a Tree: The concert at York Theatre Royal. On the celebration day itself, over 18,500 school children from around the UK and the Republic of Ireland, joined Sir Michael for a live online event featuring readings from his book Cobweb and a Q&A session hosted by Katie Razzall, BBC News Culture and Media Editor.
“I am hugely honoured to become Patron of the wonderful York Festival of Ideas. Over the years, having the opportunity to perform and share my stories as part of a festival that enables everyone to come who wants to come, has been incredibly inspiring.”
Creating more connected communities
“The Festival … is an excellent platform for us to reach different audiences with ideas and narratives we would otherwise be less likely to cover.”
York Festival of Ideas was launched in June 2011 as a partnership between the University of York, York Theatre Royal, York Museums Trust, the National Centre for Early Music and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Since then, the number of local, national and international partners has grown exponentially to well over 100, but the objective has remained essentially the same - to enhance York’s reputation as a city of ideas and innovation through offering the highest calibre of public events.
One of the main benefits of the Festival’s innovative partnership model is the creation of a strong sense of community and shared purpose. We are proud that the Festival plays an important role in the cultural calendar of our city by delivering high-quality, accessible events that enrich the lives of its residents and visitors.
“I’m so proud that York hosts such a fantastic, ambitious festival. Each year it gets better, offering access to an incredible range of subjects and speakers that are stimulating, fun, and thought-provoking. It’s a real cultural highlight and something I look forward to every year.”
“It's one of the highlights of the spring/summer season in York: a wide range of events, beautifully organised with professionalism and a strong sense of community engagement.”
Festival survey responses to the question: "What do you think the Festival brings to York?"
Festival survey responses to the question: "What do you think the Festival brings to York?"
A group of people had the opportunity to learn a new skill at a free session offering book binding skills.
A group of people had the opportunity to learn a new skill at a free session offering book binding skills.
Puzzles in the Pub offered a fun, informal session in the ancient and medieval arithmetical gymnasium.
Puzzles in the Pub offered a fun, informal session in the ancient and medieval arithmetical gymnasium.
A festival for all
“I am disabled and mostly housebound, so online lectures are very precious.”
The Festival’s key ethos is to try and ensure that anyone who wants to attend York Festival of Ideas is able to do so. The majority of our events are free to attend, and they are delivered in a range of formats and venues.
Our online events and Watch Again facility allow those who cannot attend the Festival in person, perhaps due to the physical distance from York, a disability or caring duties, to enjoy the Festival at a time that suits them.
Each year we look at ways of widening accessibility to ideas and education. This year, we partnered with MySight York and archaeologist and broadcaster Julian Richards to offer two sessions for blind and partially sighted people. The first of these, an artefact-handling workshop for adults, was described by MySight York as “one of the most memorable workshops offered to our members”. The second session, a hands-on indoor dig for children with sight impairment, transformed an imagined archaeological site into a fully accessible, tactile learning experience. Carefully adapted to meet the haptic needs of participants, the workshop offered a unique opportunity to explore history through touch and imagination.
“A powerful reminder of how history can be made accessible and immersive. From tactile timelines made of knotted string to feel for points in history, to the sounds of flint being struck, echoing ancient techniques unheard for millennia - every element was crafted to bring the past to life through touch and sound”.
“At first, I wondered how such a seemingly academic subject could hold my child's attention for the duration of the session. It was then that I discovered that the workshop engaged my child throughout and enabled him to fully participate.”
The Festival also teamed up with the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, LNER and York physicists to present a range of space-themed interactive activities at New Earswick Folk Hall for children in the area who receive free school meals.
In addition, this year’s programme included two workshops in collaboration with Our City Hub, an inclusive space with learning opportunities and cultural celebrations for migrant communities in York. Untold Stories of Migration and Belonging in York, invited people to rethink their relationship to the city and consider how layers of identity were shaped by waves of migration, and how we can find shared spaces of belonging. Members of the local refugee and asylum seekers community attended, supported by Our City Hub. Some attendees had only been in York for one week.
“I have told my friends from all over the country [about the Festival] and they are envious!”
The past was brought to life through touch and sound at an artefact-handling workshop specially designed for blind and partially sighted people.
The past was brought to life through touch and sound at an artefact-handling workshop specially designed for blind and partially sighted people.
The Festival sparked imaginations with some space-themed family fun at New Earswick Folk Hall.
The Festival sparked imaginations with some space-themed family fun at New Earswick Folk Hall.
Children with sight impairment found out what it's like to be an archaeologist at a hands-on indoor dig.
Children with sight impairment found out what it's like to be an archaeologist at a hands-on indoor dig.
A community without borders
“[The Festival] brought York to where I live”
The community of shared interests and ideas fostered by York Festival of Ideas stretches far beyond the boundaries of York. As ever, it was a privilege to continue to attract speakers and audiences from across the globe, and to work with international partners.
Among the many international speakers this year were historian Frederik Cryns from Japan, author Jean Strouse and historian Rebecca Simon from the US, sociologist Mikael Klintman from Sweden, and archaeologist and criminologist Donna Yates from the Netherlands.
We were also pleased to partner with the Jaipur Literature Festival, the French Embassy in the UK, the York Maastricht Partnership and CITY College, University of York Europe Campus to present high-quality in-person and online events.
The option to watch Festival events again - both online and selected in-person talks - continues to be popular with people from across the world, with over 2,000 views on the York Ideas YouTube channel to date (August 2025).
“[It’s a] wonderful experience to be able to access these events when I don’t live near York.”
Support that shapes the Festival
“I was truly impressed by both the breadth of the programme and the outstanding quality of the events.”
A key strength of York Festival of Ideas is its ability to bring people with different experiences together to try to understand complex, fast-moving challenges. We do this primarily through our Festival Focus series which allows our audiences to hear from and question experts.
These events are only possible through the dedicated generosity of our Festival Focus donors who provide not only the financial resourcing to underpin the viability of the Festival being free, but their own significant convening power and deep thought leadership in co-curating the Festival Focus events.
With democracy, national security and sovereignty all appearing under threat, this year we teamed up with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy to discuss A World in Crisis? Novel ideas put forward to combat disinformation included the creation of a European public media fund to support public service reporting as well as European investment in Bluesky. Meanwhile, a collaboration with the French Embassy in the UK allowed us to draw together panels of experts from France and the UK to discuss two key contemporary issues - Protecting Our Blue Planet and AI and the Future of Work. Topics for debate included whether there is any uniquely human skill in a world where we are already on the path to super human capabilities in AI.
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, we entered into a new partnership with LNER to examine the transformational power of rail - past, present and future - and its impact locally, regionally and nationally at Beyond the Tracks: Innovation and transformation. Audiences were given sneak previews of a major new timetable being introduced later in 2025, as well as hearing innovative ideas for transforming York’s economy through the development of a new Central Business District for the city.
Marking another anniversary - 100 years since the York confectionery businessman, social reformer and philanthropist Joseph Rowntree died - we partnered with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to present Making Waves: Building on Joseph Rowntree’s legacy. Through two panel events, we examined the impact of his work on the city and discussed how his legacy continues to support a vision of a more equal society, free from poverty. Interaction between speakers and the audience examined the need for new economic models exploring the idea that if society rejects the idea that anyone should live below the poverty line, should we also question the validity of those whose financial resources are above a ‘wealth line’ without a fiscal system that asks them to pay more in tax.
Other sponsor-led events this year included The Path to Net Zero presented by the Institution of Engineering and Technology; Protecting Vision and Heart Health sponsored by Ashley Burgess OBE and Gill Burgess; and sessions for blind and partially-sighted adults and children supported by Professor Phil Harris and Mrs Irene Harris.
We are also very grateful to York Central for supporting the Festival as a whole and to all our other donors and supporters in 2025.
“We attended the AI and Future of work session this evening with our Explorer Scout group (ages 14-17). I just wanted to say a big thank you, the group were really engaged by the discussion and the conversation continued on the journey back to the village. The talk really got our group members thinking!”
Working in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Festival brought together policy experts, politicians and leading academics to explore how to reduce poverty and inequalities of wealth.
Working in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Festival brought together policy experts, politicians and leading academics to explore how to reduce poverty and inequalities of wealth.
Renowned experts gathered in York to discuss 'a world in crisis' at a series of events presented in collaboration with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy.
Renowned experts gathered in York to discuss 'a world in crisis' at a series of events presented in collaboration with the Morrell Centre for Legal and Political Philosophy.
Events presented in partnership with LNER examined the transformational power of rail - past, present and future - and its impact locally, regionally and nationally.
Events presented in partnership with LNER examined the transformational power of rail - past, present and future - and its impact locally, regionally and nationally.
Showcasing York research
“[The Festival] showcases how vibrant and creative the University is and makes specialist knowledge and expertise accessible.”
As a city, and in the context of the University of York, the city of York plays host to a vast range of cutting-edge research that is helping to improve the world we live in. The Festival provides local researchers with an incredible platform to share and discuss their work, as well as offering attendees a remarkable insight into the world of research and a window into the future.
But the transfer of ideas is by no means one-way. Questions and comments from the audience, the event chair or fellow speakers can often spark a new line of enquiry or collaboration for researchers. This year, for example, Back on Track: Return to work toolkit provided new leads for the developers of a toolkit designed to help those experiencing long-term sickness absence back into work, while Treasure or Taboo? Contested Objects in Museums and Galleries brought together researchers from York and Maastricht who had not previously worked together.
Our ‘flash talks’ series returned to York Explore Library for a second year, with bite-sized introductions to topics ranging from Revealing the Secrets of Stem Cells to Dogs, Religion, Hogwarts and Military Culture, and Inequalities and Meningitis to Sagaland: A history of British writers in Iceland.
“I think it is a beacon of excellent practice in terms of what a University is for - sharing knowledge and learning opportunities to as many people as possible.”
Looking Ahead: Place and Space in 2026
You are warmly invited to join us for the 2026 edition of York Festival of Ideas, where, with our partners, sponsors, speakers and audiences we’ll be exploring various aspects of the theme, ‘Place and Space’.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.
“Nothing is more important in terms of maintaining a civil society than to engage with those who are curious in the way that you do.”
Contact
Joan Concannon
Director, York Festival of Ideas
Chief Reputation and Stakeholder Relations Officer, University of York
Contact:
Telephone: +44 (0)7919 293 081
Email: joan.concannon@york.ac.uk
For sponsorship and donation opportunities, please contact:
Edward Joyner
Relationship Manager, Corporate and Foundation Philanthropy, University of York
Contact:
Telephone: +44 (0)1904 324 389
Email: edward.joyner@york.ac.uk
Connect with the Festival online:
Facebook: YorkFestivalofIdeas
Instagram: yorkfestivalofideas
Bluesky: yorkfestofideas.bsky.social
X: @YorkFestofIdeas
YouTube: York Ideas
#YorkIdeas
Photos by: Alex Holland (University of York), Ian Martindale, Mandy James, Sarah Mitchell and Bec Hudson Smith.
Built with Shorthand