One of Leeds’ most anticipated annual events is almost upon us.

This year we’ll be hearing from some of the UK’s biggest voices and beyond as panels and key speakers take on some of the most crucial questions of our time.

For those unfamiliar with Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI), it’s quite simply a four-day festival that takes on important subjects and brings in experts from their chosen field to discuss their ideas in front of a live audience.

It’s not about which political party you vote for, nor is it divisive like Covid or Brexit, but each topic of conversation has been carefully chosen to make us think about the world around us, and draw attention to new perspectives on topical debates.

With less than one month until Leeds’ International Festival of Ideas opens its doors at the Howard Assembly Room, here’s everything you need to know about the events taking place this September- including which events you can still grab tickets for.

Keynote Talks

Throughout the festival there will be a total of five keynote talks from some of the UK’s biggest industry names. Yotam Ottolenghi will be talking about 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.

Whilst many of these events have now sold out, you can still grab remaining tickets for some of the most exciting talks across the festival.

NEW TO THE LINEUP- The (Built) Environment with Kevin McCloud

Thursday 22 September 2022, 12-1pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Kevin McCloud: The (Built) Environment is the first event to kick off the festival, with a matinee keynote speech from Grand Designs presenter, writer and designer, Kevin McCloud. The celebrated broadcaster will be talking about making sustainable changes to our environment whilst “harnessing the heritage of our cities” and ensuring that our past is preserved with net zero in mind.

Tickets: Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

VENUE UPGRADE- Arts and culture- a price worth paying? with Mary Beard

Sunday 25 September 2022, 7.30-8.30pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Donned with the title “Britain’s best-known classicist”, Mary Beard is giving her two pence on how we can preserve arts and cultures from ancient worlds, and what price we should value the opportunity to witness and learn about such subjects. The University of Cambridge Professor will be drawing on her endless knowledge stream that has seen her winning over crowds in public debate on both political and social issues throughout the years.

Tickets: Tickets cost £15 each with concessions available here.

Panel Discussions

The remainder of the events at LIFI are centred around panel-style discussions where four to six influential figures will discuss everything from social media to sports personality and beyond.

Some events have now sold out due to a high level of interest, but you can still grab tickets for these remaining events.

Is the Metaverse our future reality?

Thursday 22 September 2022 7-8.30pm | Mantle Music Studio, Howard Opera Centre

According to Mark Zuckerberg, we’re all destined to end up using a Matrix-like world to complete daily tasks, but what does this actually look like? Hosted by technology presenter Lara Lewington, this 90-minute discussion will focus on whether the Metaverse is a reality or concept.

The panel discussion will see the following speakers debate about the Metaverse’s reality:

• Lara Lewington, Presenter of BBC’s show Click, and Lifestyle Tech Journalist
• Leanne Elliot-Young, CEO of the Institute of Digital Fashion
• Dr Neil McDonnell, LKAS Fellow for VR and AR at the University of Glasgow
• Ahmed Razek, Principal Technology Advisor for the AI Information Commissioner’s Office

Tickets: Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

What’s wrong with climate activism?

Saturday 24 September 2022, 3-4pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Hosted by Judy Ling Wong CBE, Honorary President of the Black Environment Network, the speakers here will be talking about how the social and media-led activities of climate activism are affecting how people engage with climate activism. Taking on the task of suggesting how we can platform marginalised communities to alter the mainstream narrative of climate talks, the speakers will together try to answer the overall question, without equality, can we ever achieve climate justice?

The panel discussion will see the following speakers debate about climate activism:

• Judy Ling Wong CBE, Honorary President of the Black Environment Network
• Pauline Castres, Activist, Artist and Policy and Advocacy Professional
• Sara-Elvira Kuhmunen, President of the Sámi Youth Association Sáminuorra
• Dominique Palmer, Launch Coordinator for Climate Live and organiser within Fridays for Future International
• Lee Pivnik, Artist, Activist and Founder of the Institute of Queer Ecology
• Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Semi-Professional Footballer and Community Gardener

Tickets: Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

What can you laugh about?

Saturday 24 September 2022, 7-8.30pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Banter, offence and political correctness are three phrases that are increasingly putting comedians to the front pages, and in a world where we all have a different version of what is humorous and what is offensive, this is quickly becoming one of the biggest social conversations of the year. Comedian and TV Presenter Jamali Maddix will be discussing his thoughts with a range of voices, including the UK’s brightest, funniest and most outspoken comedians.

The panel discussion will see the following speakers debate about what we can actually laugh about:

• Jamali Maddix, Comedian and  Host of Vice’s Hate Thy Neighbour and Sky’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks
• Ayishat Akanbi, Cultural Commentator and Photographer
• Rosie Jones, Comedian and Actress, as seen on Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
• Geoff Norcott, Comedian and Author, as seen on Live at the Apollo, Mash Report and Mock the Week

Tickets: Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

Does sport have a social responsibility?

Sunday 25 September 2022, 7-8.30pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

Marcus Rashford and Kevin Sinfield alone have given us a number of reasons to commend sportsmen for raising awareness for socially-driven causes, but the sporting world is made up of far more stereotypes than just the charitable star. This panel, led by Campaigner and Journalist Charlie Webster will dissect the DNA of a sports star and whether their role should be used to highlight important social issues.

The panel discussion will see the following speakers debate the social responsibility, if any, of sports stars:

• Charlie Webster, Broadcaster, Journalist and Campaigner
• Gary Bennett MBE, Former Professional Footballer
• Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Former Paralympian and Life Peer
• Simon Jordan, Former Youngest Owner of a Premier League Football Club, Author and Broadcaster

Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY: Is social media ruling the world?

Sunday 25 September 2022, 3-4.30pm | Howard Assembly Room, New Briggate

If social media influencers have the power to have a say in how society thinks, behaves, how we shop and what false information becomes hegemonic, what power are we giving these people? In a world where 4.4 billion of us are connected to the internet, Chief Leader Writer at The Observer will be hosting a discussion around the digital sphere and what power it can, or should, hold over us.

This panel will be joined by Christopher Wylie, the man that set up, then tore down Cambridge Analytica, and then wrote a first-hand account of the entire experience of how culture, information and algorithms can be weaponised to undermine elections around the world. Recognised as Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018 and featured in the 2019 movie, The Great Hack, this is going to be a truly exciting insight to hear from.

The panel discussion will see the following speakers debate social media:

• Sonia Sodha, Chief Leader Writer at The Observer, Columnist for The Observer / The Guardian and Former Senior Policy Adviser to Ed Miliband
• Dr Al Baker, Editorial Director at misinformation-fighting tech start-up
• Africa Brooke, Internationally-recognised Consultant, Speaker, Writer and Podcaster
• Christopher Wylie, Data Consultant but best known for his role in setting up – and taking down – the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica

Tickets: Tickets cost £10 each with concessions available here.

Read More: Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2022 announce huge names for lineup

For more information, including dates, line-ups and the most exciting LIFI announcements, visit the Leeds International Festival website.

Feature Image- Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI)