Welcome to York Festival of Ideas 2024
Join us for York Festival of Ideas 2024 as we explore The Power Of... with over 200 mostly free in-person and online events designed to educate, entertain and inspire.
Made possible by the generous support of our sponsors, the Festival features world-class speakers, performances, exhibitions, tours, family-friendly activities, and much more. And with topics ranging from archaeology to art, history to health and politics to psychology, the programme promises something for all ages and interests.
Browse our diverse programme - by theme, date or format - and find out everything you need to know about the Festival.
Please note: All event timings are British Summer Time (BST, UTC+1), so please check your specific timezone if you are joining us for online events from outside the UK.
Festival highlight
The Science of Sport
Saturday 1 June, 2.30pm to 3.45pm
Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in July, our speakers, including double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, explore elite sports. How does science contribute to making athletes faster and stronger? How much does talent contribute to success, or can training and commitment create an elite athlete?
[I liked] the breadth and quality of talks and [the] general atmosphere of the festival. It feels so open and safe as a cultural and academic space, and is so accessible to everyone. That we can access such high quality talks and events for free is extraordinary - it is one of the best things about living around York and an absolute gem in York’s cultural crown.
Survey respondent