Leeds International Festival of Ideas, brought to you by LeedsBID, returns to Leeds Playhouse from 6 to 10 October.

Leeds International Festival of Ideas is one month away. LIFI26 returns to Leeds Playhouse from Tuesday 6 to Saturday 10 October with five days of talks, debates and live events, opening with Louis Theroux and closing with Tim Minchin.

The countdown begins with two announcements.

NEW PANELLISTS FOR SATURDAY

TV personality and mental health advocate Olivia Bentley, best known for Made in Chelsea, joins Are kids still part of the plan? on Saturday 10 October, 2pm to 3.30pm in the Courtyard theatre, alongside BBC Radio 5 Live broadcaster Johnny I’Anson. Hosted by Laura Hamilton with Dr SJ Beard, Yousra Samir Imran and Betty Mukherjee, it is a frank conversation about falling birth rates and the decision, delayed or declined, to become a parent.

LIFI FUTURES

Young LIFI, which launched in 2025 as a single schools event, returns for 2026 as LIFI Futures: four events built around the questions shaping young people’s lives in Leeds, covering identity, apprenticeships, getting a job and maths. Three are free and booked through schools, colleges and universities across the city. The fourth, Is maths the root of everything?, celebrates Leeds’s designation as the UK’s first City of Maths and is open to all.

The first LIFI Futures line-up is confirmed. BBC Newsround presenter Shanequa Paris hosts How to be unapologetically you? on Friday 9 October with Tasha Ghouri, Dr Radha Modgil, Ash Palmisciano and Stevie Ward. Speakers for the remaining events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Martin Dickson, Festival Director, said:

Young LIFI was the best thing we added last year, and it was one event. LIFI Futures is now four events. These are the conversations shaping what young people in Leeds think is possible for them, and they deserve the same stage, the same speakers and the same seriousness as everything else on the programme.

Across the week the programme also features Chris Packham CBE, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Elizabeth Day, Samira Ahmed, James O’Brien, Afua Hirsch, Roman Kemp, Harriet Harman, Denise van Outen, Rachel Riley MBE and more. Several events have already sold out.

Tickets on sale now at leedsintfest.com. LeedsBID levy payers can use code LEEDSBID20 for 20% off selected events.

LIFI26 is brought to the city by LeedsBID and Welcome to Leeds, supported by AV Matrix, City of Maths, Pinsent Masons, Weightmans and Leeds Playhouse.