Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI) is set to returns to the city this October with Leeds Playhouse the venue for an exceptional line-up of worldwide speakers, performers, and thought leaders.

As the clock ticks down to this year’s Leeds International Festival of Ideas (FIFI), another enthralling line-up of speakers will deliver four days of engaging dialogue, profound connections, and boundless curiosity.

And as ever, LIFI24 promises to captivate and challenge attendees with its diverse topics.

Among the luminaries headlining LIFI24 are esteemed figures from various fields, including journalism, entertainment, science, and technology.

Notable names scheduled to grace the festival stages include Kate Adie, Stacey Dooley, Kate Garraway, Goldie, Paterson Joseph, Nile Rodgers, Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem, Tim Spector, Carol Vorderman, Matt Willis and many more.

LIFI24 will feature an impressive line-up of panel discussions, each exploring crucial themes relevant to contemporary society and fireside chats.

Joining the festival this year as keynote speakers are the brilliant Nile Rodgers  and BEKA, who’ll lead a dynamic conversation on the evolution of creativity, where the rhythm of music never ceases.

Kate Adie (Former BBC chief news correspondent) and Stacey Dooley (who recently hosted the BAFTAs) will delve into the intricate realm of conflict reporting and the portrayal of war while Tim Spector (Scientific Co-Founder of Zoe) and Dr. Amir Khan (GP and bestselling author) will unravel the mysteries of gut health and nutrition, offering insights into optimal well-being. Grace Beverley will grace the festival with her expertise as an entrepreneur and influencer during the lunchtime discussion, exploring the nuances of the creator economy. And lastly, brace yourselves as Carol Vorderman and Rebecca Lucy Taylor, also known as Self Esteem, fearlessly confront archaic portrayals of women in the media, sparking a dialogue on whether the media needs to step up and evolve.

The panel chats this year are the strongest the festival has had as Matt Willis from the pop-punk band Busted and Lauren Windle, an esteemed author and journalist head up the topic of addiction.

There’ll be a chance to delve into the realm of AI with Georgie Barrat, host of Gadget Show, along with NHS Digital’s Dr. Nisha Sharma and the talented actor Paterson Joseph, who brings a sceptical yet insightful perspective.

Professor Tim Wilson (The Circle) joins forces with Rylan (X Factor, Big Brother) alongside Charlotte Armitage, an expert on the duty of care for production companies, to explore the impact of reality TV on our perception of reality. Discover the diverse facets of neurodiversity with Ellie Middleton, an impassioned activist, Christine McGuiness, a model, and Tumi Sotire, founder of The Black Dyspraxic, while Kate Garraway will lead a conversation with Goldie, a renowned music producer, and Lizzy Oma, an advocate for cohousing, about who steps in when basic human needs are left unmet due to illness, age, disability, or poverty.

This year’s festival runs from October 2nd to 5th at Leeds Playhouse.

More information and tickets can be bought by visiting leedsinternationalfestival.com