Five extraordinary days of ideas, inspiration, and connection

Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2025 (LIFI25) has wrapped up after five incredible days that challenged, connected, and changed everyone who attended.

This year’s festival was the biggest and boldest yet, marking the first time the event ran across five days, bringing together thinkers, creators, and audiences to explore what matters most right now.

From Chuck D’s powerful keynote and spontaneous meet-and-greet with fans, to the laughter and honesty of Sally Wainwright, Tamsin Greig, and Gaynor Faye as they celebrated Riot Women and the power of women in storytelling, LIFI25 was a true celebration of ideas that ignite conversation.

The festival also tackled deep and important issues — with moving discussions on men and mental health hosted by Caitlin Moran, modern motherhood featuring Myleene Klass MBE and domestic abuse led by Victoria Derbyshire which brought empathy and awareness to the forefront.

The final day ended in unforgettable fashion with Our Dementia Choir, led by Vicky McClure, whose emotional performance saw the entire theatre rise to their feet to sing together, a moment that left not a dry eye in the room.

For younger audiences, Young LIFI proved a roaring success. The Ruth Gorse Academy helped shape a unique event for school students, even helping to select the line-up, and their excitement filled the hall with energy and huge cheers.

Festival Director Martin Dickson said:

“LIFI25 has been a truly special year, our first-ever five-day festival, with 5,500 people coming together to share ideas, stories, and inspiration. Leeds has once again shown that it’s a city that loves conversation, creativity, and community.”

As the lights dim on another edition of LIFI, one thing is clear, the Leeds International Festival of Ideas continues to grow as one of the UK’s most distinctive and thought-provoking festivals, uniting audiences around the power of ideas that can change the world.

Full LIFI25 Line-up

Shebahn Aherne | Peg Alexander | Matthew Akpan | Nihal Arthanayake | David Baddiel | Mike Bates | Joeli Brearley MBE | Tom Burgis | Emily Campbell | Ami Charlize | Andrew Cooper | Chuck D | Victoria Derbyshire | Andrew Edwards | Gaynor Faye | Roisin Freeney | Dr Alex George | Tamsin Greig | Zoe Hands | William Hanson | Dame Nicole Jacobs | Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE | Myleene Klass MBE | Karl Lokko | Sam McAlister | Vicky McClure MBE | Dr Radha Modgil | Caitlin Moran | Prof. Leanne Norman | Our Dementia Choir | Andrew Pain | Shanequa Paris | Richard Pomfrett | Annie Price | Natasha Rattu | Joanna Reeve | Dr Kirsty Sedgman | Prof. Mona Siddiqui OBE | Fred Sirieix | Verity Smith | Matthew Syed | Dr Nicky Taylor | Sally Wainwright OBE | Kirsty Wark | Claire Warren | Dr Stephen Whitehead | Fara Williams MBE | Rachel William