Full LIFI26 Line-Up revealed: Louis Theroux Comes To Leeds

Elizabeth Day, Vicky Pattison, Roman Kemp, Chris Packham, Dame Evelyn Glennie, join Tim Minchin, and Ashley James for LIFI26

October 6th – 10th October 2026

Leeds International Festival of Ideas today reveals the full line-up for its sixth edition, with Louis Theroux, Elizabeth Day, Chris Packham CBE, Roman Kemp, Vicky Pattison, James O’Brien, Dame Evelyn Glennie and Megan McKenna among the amazing names heading to Leeds Playhouse from 6-10 October 2026 – a five-day, ten-event programme that confirms the festival’s arrival as a serious stop on the national ideas circuit. Theroux, one of the most distinctive broadcasters of our time, opens the festival on Tuesday 6 October with an intimate fireside chat at Leeds Playhouse’s Quarry stage.

Four decades of social commentary, from far-right militias to Scientologists, porn stars to convicted criminals, the rich, the broken, and the misunderstood in one night, in Leeds — before Tim Minchin closes proceedings on Saturday 10 October with a career-spanning conversation taking in Matilda the Musical, three decades of songwriting, and Minchin’s refreshingly clear-eyed views on living a creative life.

Across the week, hosts Samira Ahmed, Chris Packham, Miranda Sawyer, Joe Tidy, Laura Hamilton, Amy Irons, Harriet Rose, Jamil Qureshi, Dr Hannah French and Larry Budd lead a programme of fireside chats and panel discussions tackling the questions defining the moment: the future of the planet, belonging in modern Britain, the legacy of the 90s, the future of parenthood, suicide and masculinity, social media, failure, and what it means to live a creative life.

Closing the festival on Saturday 10 October is Tim Minchin, the world-renowned musician, actor, writer and comedian behind “Matilda the Musical” and “Groundhog Day”, for a career-spanning conversation on staying creative in a chaotic world. Earlier in the week, naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham CBE asks why the environment has slipped down the political agenda; double GRAMMY-winning solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, profoundly deaf since childhood, shares a journey that redefines the sound of success; and TV presenter, broadcaster and Heart Radio host Vicky Pattison joins the panel asking whether kids are still part of the plan.

Sunday Times bestselling author and “How to Fail” podcaster Elizabeth Day brings her chart-topping conversation on resilience and self-limiting beliefs to the Quarry on Wednesday 7 October, in a fireside chat that has sold out venues from The London Palladium to Sydney Opera House. And on Friday 9 October, singer, TV personality and “X Factor: Celebrity” winner Megan McKenna joins the panel, asking whether it’s finally time to switch off social media, a frank conversation on influencer culture, doomscrolling, and the platforms shaping modern life from someone who has lived inside them.

Martin Dickson, Festival Director, said: “Getting Louis Theroux to Leeds is a real moment for this festival and this city. He’s one of the defining broadcasters of his generation, and the kind of name LIFI has been building towards for four years. But this is a programme with serious depth beyond the headline — Tim Minchin, Elizabeth Day, Chris Packham, Samira Ahmed, Miranda Sawyer, five days of conversation you genuinely cannot get anywhere else in the country. LIFI has always been about bringing the brightest minds to Leeds and giving the city a stage that punches above its weight. LIFI26 does exactly that.”

Tuesday 6 October

The festival opens with the fireside chat with Louis Theroux, four decades into a career that has redefined long-form broadcasting. From far-right militias to Scientologists, porn stars to convicted criminals, Theroux has built his reputation on the quiet, stubborn act of paying attention. Expect a conversation about curiosity, conviction, and the stories we tell ourselves
and each other.

Wednesday 7 October

In the evening, broadcaster Amy Irons hosts How Do We Talk About Suicide?, a panel featuring Andy Airey MBE of 3 Dads Walking, Roman Kemp, Donelle Lawrence of The Brave Project, Professor Rory O’Connor and Ellie Palma-Cass of Epic Hope. Positioned around conversation rather than cause, it asks how media, mates and masculinity shape the way we talk — or don’t — about one of society’s hardest subjects. The night closes with bestselling author and podcaster Elizabeth Day in a fireside chat titled Failure Is An Option, hosted by Jamil Qureshi. A wide-ranging conversation on resilience, self-limiting beliefs, and why setbacks might be the most valuable data we ever collect.

Thursday 8 October

Strength Beyond The Silence brings together two extraordinary voices: percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie hosted by Dr Hannah French. A conversation about resilience, identity, and finding strength in the spaces other people overlook. Later, The Planet Hasn’t Stopped Burning sees naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham CBE host Dr Mya-Rose Craig and Juergen Maier CBE for a frank conversation about why the environment has slipped off the political agenda — and what it will take to put it back.

Friday 9 October

In the evening, BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy hosts Is It Time To Switch Off Social Media?, joined by Dr Sophie Bishop, Mark Farid, Katy Leeson and Megan McKenna for a panel on the platforms shaping — and warping — modern life. Meanwhile, What Did The 90s Really Do To Us? is a deep dive into the decade that arguably changed everything. Music journalist Miranda Sawyer hosts Harriet Harman, Judge Jules, Jason McGann and Denise van Outen for a conversation on Britpop, Blair, the birth of the internet and the cultural fallout we’re still living with.

Saturday 10 October

The final day opens with Are Kids Still Part Of The Plan?, hosted by Laura Hamilton with Dr SJ Beard, Yousra Samir Imran, Betty Mukherjee and Vicky Pattison. Birth rates are falling fast across the developed world — this panel asks why, and what it means for the societies we’re choosing to leave behind. In the evening, broadcaster Samira Ahmed hosts We All Belong Here, Don’t We?, joined by Afua Hirsch, Ashley James, James O’Brien and Ash Palmisciano. From identity and immigration to feminism and community, an unflinching conversation about what belonging means in a fractured Britain. The festival closes with Tim Minchin in a fireside chat titled Creativity Among The Chaos, hosted by Larry Budd. A career-spanning conversation taking in Matilda the Musical, three decades of songwriting, and Minchin’s refreshingly clear-eyed views on living a creative life.

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 4 June, with general sale opening on 10 June. Sign up at leedsintfest.com.

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

A to Z of speakers

Samira Ahmed, Andy Airey MBE, Dr SJ Beard, Dr Sophie Bishop, Larry Budd, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Elizabeth Day, Mark Farid, Dr Hannah French, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Laura Hamilton, Harriet Harman, Afua Hirsch, Yousra Samir Imran, Amy Irons, Ashley James, Judge Jules, Roman Kemp, Donelle Lawrence, Katy Leeson, Professor Juergen Maier CBE, Jason McGann, Megan McKenna, Tim Minchin, Betty Mukherjee, James O’Brien, Professor Rory O’Connor, Denise van Outen, Chris Packham CBE, Ellie Palma-Cass, Ash Palmisciano, Vicky Pattison. Jamil Qureshi, Harriet Rose, Miranda Sawyer, Louis Theroux and Joe Tidy.