What Is Happening At The Leeds International Festival Of Ideas LIFI25 This October?

Get your diaries out, because the Leeds International Festival of Ideas is heading back to the city this October! From Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th October 2025, the festival is set to take over with a massive programme of talks and debates about the big ideas shaping our world. The countdown has officially begun, and with it comes some brilliant news, including fresh faces joining the panels and a brand-new part of the festival designed for young people. It looks like this year’s event is going to be the biggest one yet.

New faces and big conversations

So, who’s new to the line-up? Two of the festival’s most interesting panels have just added some amazing experts. First up, the Can Mums Have It All? talk is being joined by Annie Price. She’s a presenter and the founder of Well Woman Club, and she’ll be on stage with Myleene Klass MBE for a really honest chat about what modern motherhood is actually like. They’ll be talking about everything from high expectations to the ‘mental load’ – you know, that endless to-do list that mums seem to carry around in their heads. It’s a conversation that so many mums and families will relate to.

And that’s not all. The panel asking Who Picks Up the Tab for a Hospitable City? is welcoming Joanna Reeve. As the UK Director at Intrepid Travel, she knows a thing or two about making travel work for everyone. She’ll be joining Fred Sirieix to discuss the challenges facing our cities. Think about it: can a city stay fun and welcoming when prices are always going up and there are tons of tourists? It’s a tricky question, and this event will look at who really pays to keep a city vibrant. It's an important topic for anyone who loves their local city.

Introducing Young LIFI and building 'bouncebackability'

Perhaps the most exciting news is the launch of Young LIFI. This is a brand-new strand of the festival created especially to inspire and educate young people. The first ever Young LIFI event, made in partnership with The Ruth Gorse Academy, asks a really important question: how do young people get ‘bouncebackability’?

What’s bouncebackability? It’s basically resilience. In a world full of noise from social media, the news, and school pressures, it’s about how young people can face challenges, ignore stereotypes, and come back even stronger from setbacks. This is a huge topic for mental health and wellbeing.

The event, taking place on Friday, 17th October, will be hosted by BBC Newsround presenter Shanequa Paris. She’ll be chatting with a panel of seriously inspirational people:

• Jamie Jones Buchanan MBE: A rugby league legend who is now the Chief Executive of Leeds Rhinos. He knows all about picking yourself up after a tough match.
• Dr Radha Modgil: An NHS GP and broadcaster who is an expert on wellbeing and mental health.
• Matthew Akpan: An entrepreneur and educator who works to support young people.
• Ami Charles: A social media personality and motivational speaker who knows how to handle the online world.

This event is all about giving young people the tools they need to face the world with confidence. It paints a powerful image of a community coming together to support the next generation. As Festival Director Martin Dickson said:

“This year, we’re opening up the conversation to younger audiences with the launch of Young LIFI. Resilience and mental health are among the most important issues for the next generation, and by creating a platform for role models to share their stories, we hope to equip young people with tools to face challenges head-on. Leeds is a city of voices and it’s vital that our younger voices are part of that.”

The full LIFI25 schedule at a glance

This year's festival is already the fastest-selling to date, which shows just how many people are keen to get involved with these big ideas. The full programme spans five days at Leeds Playhouse with 46 speakers. The line-up is incredible, with headline appearances from music legend Chuck D, comedian David Baddiel, actor Vicky McClure MBE, writer Caitlin Moran, and so many more.

From politics to parenthood, the festival covers all sorts of topics that matter today. Here’s a quick look at what’s on the cards for the event:

Date	Event Highlights
Tuesday 14 October	Who Rules the World? - A look at power and influence in our modern world. Chuck D: How Hip-Hop Changed the World - The Public Enemy icon on music and social change.
Wednesday 15 October	Where Have All the Good Men Gone? - A discussion on modern masculinity and male mental health. Sally Wainwright & Tamsin Greig: I Predict a Riot - Talking about rebellious storytelling.
Thursday 16 October	Who Picks Up the Tab for a Hospitable City? - The big debate on keeping cities alive and affordable. Why Do We Need to Talk About Domestic Abuse? - Survivors and experts breaking the silence. David Baddiel: Is Religion the Ultimate Culture War? - A personal take on faith today.
Friday 17 October	Young LIFI: How do young people acquire bouncebackability - The new strand for schools, focusing on resilience and mental health. Can Mums Have It All? - A frank look at the myths and reality of modern motherhood. William Hanson: Manners Cost Nowt - A fun look at why good manners still matter.
Saturday 18 October	Vicky McClure’s Our Dementia Choir - An uplifting live event about the power of music. How Level is the Playing Field? - Top athletes discuss equality in sport.

With so many fantastic talks and ideas on offer, the Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2025 is shaping up to be an unmissable event for everyone, young and old. Tickets are selling fast, so if something catches your eye, it’s a good idea to grab them soon.