Tim Minchin, Ashley James & Dr Mya-Rose Craig Lead First Wave of LIFI26 Line-Up

Leeds International Festival of Ideas
October 6th – 10th October 2026

Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI26) is proud to announce its initial three speakers for this year’s festival, set to take place in October 2026. The festival will once again bring together some of the most innovative and thought-provoking minds from around the world, encouraging conversation, connection and curiosity across five days of talks, panels and ideas.

The festival, taking place 6 – 10 October at Leeds Playhouse, is delighted to reveal the first three names on the bill:

Tim Minchin is a musician, writer, actor and comedian, and the multiple Olivier and Helpmann Award-winning, Tony and Grammy nominated composer-lyricist of two stage musicals — Matilda the Musical and Groundhog Day — with a feature film of Matilda the Musical released in 2022. As a singer-songwriter-pianist-comedian, he has sold out some of the world’s most iconic venues, including The Royal Albert Hall, The Sydney Opera House and Wembley Arena. His most recent tours, An Unfunny Evening With Tim Minchin and his Piano (2024) and Songs The World Will Never Hear (2025), sold hundreds of thousands of tickets across three continents, and his 2025 album Tim Minchin Time Machine peaked at #1 in Australia. A member of the Order of Australia and holder of three honorary doctorates, he is also the author of You Don’t Have to Have a Dream, a Sunday Times bestseller published in seven countries. At LIFI26 he brings three decades of songwriting, storytelling and sharp social commentary to the stage.

Ashley James is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of BIMBO and a social and political commentator on ITV’s This Morning. A broadcaster, DJ and mum of two, she has become one of the UK’s most recognisable feminist voices — known for tackling sexism, culture wars, women’s health, motherhood and modern womanhood with intelligence, warmth and bite. Her debut book BIMBO sparked national conversation around the labels that shrink women — from “bossy” to “bimbo” — and how we reclaim our confidence in a world that profits from our silence. With a social media following of over 700,000, she has built a highly engaged digital community and is a proud supporter of charities including Girlguiding and Women’s Aid. Her LIFI26 appearance promises a frank, funny and fearless contribution to an important conversation.

Dr Mya-Rose Craig is a birder, environmentalist and race activist campaigning for equal access to nature, to stop biodiversity loss and climate change, and to ensure global climate justice. She started her Birdgirl blog at age 11, launched diversity-in-nature charity Black2Nature at 14, and at 17 became the youngest person to see half the world’s bird species and to receive an honorary Doctorate of Science. She campaigns against palm oil and plastic pollution and fights for the prioritisation of the human rights of indigenous peoples. Her memoir Birdgirl tells the story of how she found solace in nature while growing up with a mother with severe bipolar disorder. She brings a vital voice to LIFI26 on the intersections of nature, equality and the future of our planet. These three figures reflect LIFI26’s mission to bring together the sharpest, most original minds from across disciplines, sparking new ideas and conversations that challenge and inspire audiences in Leeds and beyond.

Martin Dickson, Festival Director, said: “We’re thrilled to be back for another exciting year of LIFI, and these first three names set the tone for what’s to come. Tim, Ashley and Mya-Rose each bring something truly different — music and satire, feminism and cultural commentary, environmental activism and youth voice. LIFI26 is shaping up to be our most ambitious programme yet, and we can’t wait to bring it to Leeds Playhouse this October.” LIFI is brought to the city by LeedsBID (Leeds Business Improvement District) and Welcome to Leeds, supported by Weightman, City of Maths, Pinsent Mason, and AV Matrix. These three dynamic figures reflect LIFI25’s mission to bring together the sharpest, most original minds from across disciplines, sparking new ideas and conversations that challenge and inspire.

Shawab Iqbal, Chief Executive of Leeds Playhouse, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Leeds International Festival of Ideas back to Leeds Playhouse for the fourth year running. LIFI26 is exactly the kind of work we want across our theatre spaces – offering bold thinking, open conversation and a platform for the voices shaping the world around us. From Tim Minchin’s unmistakable wit to Ashley James and Dr Mya-Rose Craig’s fearless campaigning, it’s a line-up that speaks to everything our theatre stands for.” A full programme of panel discussions and keynote talks will be revealed on June 3rd 2026, with topics spanning politics, culture, science, society and more.

Sign up now for priority access and cheaper tickets. LIFI newsletter subscribers get first access to tickets ahead of general sale, plus exclusive subscriber pricing on selected events. Tickets go on sale to priority subscribers on June 4th, with general sale opening on June 10th. Sign up at leedsintfest.com to secure first access and the best prices.