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LIFI26 in pictures: five days of big ideas at Leeds Playhouse
Chapter 81
Over 6,000 people made their way to Leeds Playhouse last week for Leeds International Festival of Ideas 2026, its biggest programme yet.
Across five days and 14 events in the Quarry and Courtyard theatres, 56 speakers took on climate change, men’s mental health and suicide prevention, social media, parenthood, belonging, deafness and music, and the decade that gave us Britpop and Blair. Louis Theroux opened the festival on Tuesday night. Tim Minchin closed it on Saturday.
It was also the first year of LIFI Futures, the festival’s expanded programme for young people, which included free events for schools and colleges and a public session with Rachel Riley MBE tied to Leeds becoming the UK’s first City of Maths.
Festival Director Martin Dickson said: “Leeds is curious, it’s open and it isn’t afraid of a difficult conversation.”
Here’s how the week looked.
Louis Theroux opens LIFI26 in conversation with Harriet Rose in the Quarry Theatre on Tuesday 6 October. Tickets went within minutes of going on sale.
LIFI is brought to the city by LeedsBID, with Welcome to Leeds as headline partner. Because the festival is not-for-profit, ticket income goes straight back into next year’s programme, and planning for LIFI27 has already started.
Watch the LIFI26 aftermovie, catch up on every event in the LIFI Journal and sign up for first access to next year’s festival at leedsintfest.com.