Everything you need to know about Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022.

Consisting of four keynote talks and six panels from Thursday 22 September – Sunday 25 September 2022, LIFI will take place in Leeds’ new premier venue, Howard Assembly Room and Howard Opera Centre, and this year is set to be bigger than ever before.

Yotam Ottolenghi will be talking all things food; Aisling Bea is taking on the conversation of screenwriting; whilst David Olusoga’s talk will be entitled Britain and the History Ways and Mary Beard tackles the accessibility of art and culture in a modern society. Plus, there’s six panels with some huge names like creator and whistleblower of Cambridge Analytica, Christopher Wylie, joining across four nights this September.

Tackling some of the most crucial questions of our time, Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) has just launched its full panel and keynote speakers for 2022- and we have the full line-up to share with you.

Read More: Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022 announce huge names for line-up

From the future of technology, to climate justice and the social duty of sports professionals- this certainly will be an international festival to remember.

Keep reading to find out the full line-up this year for Leeds International Festival of Ideas, including the dates, times and how to book tickets for each event.

In Conversation, Yotam Ottolenghi: Universal Language of Food 

In an increasingly divided world, acclaimed chef, restaurateur and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi explores how food brings people together. 

Yotam Ottolenghi speaking at Leeds International Festival of Ideas says: “Like any other human activity, cooking is hugely enriched by interaction between cultures. I can’t wait to discuss culinary diversity and multiculturalism at Leeds International Festival of Ideas.” 

When: Thursday 22 September, 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Tickets: Each ticket costs £15 and can be purchased directly from the LIFI website. Please note that LIFI has issued a low-ticket warning for this set.

Find out more here.

 Panel: Is the metaverse our future reality? 

Amongst the rhetoric of avatars, Meta and Web 3.0, what could and should this next phase of the internet really look like and mean for us all? 

Panel: Lara Lewington (host); Technology presenter Leanne Elliott-Young; CEO and Co-Founder, Institute of Digital Fashion Dr Neil McDonnell; LKAS Fellow for VR and AR, University of Glasgow Ahmed Razek; Principal Technology Advisor – AI, Information Commissioner’s Office Matthew Warneford; CEO and Founder, Dubit 

When: Thursday 22 September, 7pm – 8.30pm

Where: Mantle Music Studio, Opera North

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

Find out more here.

Friday 23 September 2022 

In Conversation, Aisling Bea: Contemporary Voice of Screenwriting

Aisling Bea discusses what it means to be a 21st century BAFTA-winning screenwriter.

When: Friday 23 September, 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate 

Tickets: Each ticket costs £15 and can be purchased directly from the LIFI website. 

Find out more here.

Panel: How do we talk about mental health? 

Have we now normalised the conversation surrounding mental health or is there still a way to go?  Why is it important to talk about mental health and what more needs to be done to empower people to open up? 

Panel Line-up: Bryony Gordon (host), Journalist, Author and Mental Health Campaigner; Luke Ambler, Mental Health Campaigner and Motivational Speaker David Harewood MBE; Actor and Director, Sarah Hughes, Chief Executive Centre for Mental Health; Gail Porter, Television Personality and Presenter 

When: Friday 23 September, 7pm – 8.30pm

Where: Mantle Music Studio, Opera North

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

Find out more here.

Saturday 24 September 2022 

David Olusoga: Britain and the History Ways

History is now front-page news, contested as never before. Statues have fallen and the reputations of great men called into question. In this talk, Professor David Olusoga examines the causes of the ‘history wars’ and asks where they might lead us.

David Olusoga, speaking at Leeds International Festival of Ideas says:  “The world is in a strange place right now and having festivals like this, bringing people together to discuss topics is exactly what is needed. I will be talking about the history of great inventions and the inventors and can they ever be separated.” 

When: Saturday 24 September, 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Where: Mantle Music Studio, Opera North

Tickets: Each ticket costs £15 and can be purchased directly from the LIFI website. 

Find out more here.

Panel: What’s wrong with climate activism?  

How do we platform marginalised communities to alter the mainstream narrative of climate talks? Without equality, can we ever achieve climate justice? 

Panel: Judy Ling Wong CBE (host), Honorary President, Black Environment Network Pauline Castres Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen Dominique Palmer Lee Pivnik Hamza Yassin 

When: Saturday 24 September, 3pm – 4.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

Find out more here.

 Panel: What can you laugh about? 

In a society where cancel culture is widespread and language censored, where exactly should we draw the line between comedic expression and just downright offensive? 

Panel: Jamali Maddix (host), Comedian Ayishat Akanbi, Stylist and Writer Geoff Norcott and Rosie Jones 

When: Saturday 24 September, 7pm – 8.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

 Find out more here.

Sunday 25 September 2022 

Mary Beard: Arts and Culture – A Price Worth Paying? 

Classicist and broadcaster Mary Beard looks at how we can best defend, and pay for, arts and culture from the ancient world to now. 

When: Sunday 25 September, 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Where: Mantle Music Studio, Opera North

Tickets: Each ticket costs £15 and can be purchased directly from the LIFI website. 

Find out more here.

Panel: Is social media ruling the world? 

The expansion of social media sees us spiralling towards tailored algorithms, fake news and geopolitical influence. Can the power of an instant communications system really be beneficial for humankind? 

Panel: Sonia Sodha (host) Dr Al Baker, Editorial Director, Logically Africa Brooke, Consultant, Speaker and Writer Christopher Wylie  

When: Sunday 25 September, 3pm – 4.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

Find out more here.

 Panel: Does sport have a social duty? 

 The Marcus Rashford effect has raised questions about the role of sport within society.  Is giving back integral to the DNA of sport? Are sports personalities best placed in highlighting important social issues? 

Panel: Charlie Webster (host), Broadcaster, Journalist and CampaignerGary Bennett MBE, Former Professional Footballer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, Simon Jordan, Entrepreneur, Author and Presenter Gareth Thomas, Former Professional Rugby Player

When: Sunday 25 September, 7pm – 8.30pm

Where: Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Tickets: Standard tickets costs £10 each with concessions available on the LIFI website.

Find out more here.

With the full programme now revealed, tickets are on sale. For more information, including how to buy tickets, visit the Leeds International Festival of Idea website.

Feature Image- Leeds International Festival of Ideas