Battle of Ideas 2026

The 21st Battle of Ideas festival will take place on Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October 2026 at Church House, London. Conversations for the public, with the public, in public. The Battle of Ideas festival is THE place to find open, honest and frank discussion all the major issues of our times – in politics, economic, science and culture. The festival's motto is FREE SPEECH ALLOWED. Join us for an unmissable weekend of debate and discussion on the most important political, economic, scientific and cultural issues of our time. EARLY-BIRD RATES UNTIL THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER WELL OVER 100 SESSIONS, INCLUDING Suicidal empathy: is the West killing itself with kindness? • Women betrayed: should we smash the unions and start again? • NHS to the police: the politicisation of public services • Controlling the narrative? The politics of misinformation and truth • WTF is Manchesterism and can it save the economy? • Anti-social Britain: why do we feel unsafe? • Puberty-blockers scandal: the ethics of clinical trials • Should we scrap the Equality Act? • Is it Islamism or is there a problem with Islam? • What’s the BBC ever done for us? • Can insurgents free us from The Blob? In conversation with Danny Kruger • Finally Trumped: who’s the heir to MAGA? • Visas for all? Britain’s immigration scandal • We don’t need no indoctrination: the politicisation of education • Brexit: the facts strike back • The rise of the femosphere • Grooming gangs to the Nottingham Inquiry: untangling accountability • Does AI change everything? And so much more - see the full programme HERE SPEAKERS INCLUDE Claire Fox • Lord David Frost • Poppy Coburn • Maeve Halligan • Danny Kruger MP • Frank Furedi • Jacob Mchangama • Rosie Duffield MP • Emma Trimble • Lord Maurice Glasman • Andrew Fox • Stella Tsantekidou • Remi Adekoya • Ben Jones • Liam Halligan • Timandra Harkness • Tiffany Jenkins • Richard Johnson • Helen Joyce • Julie Bindel • Rosie Kay • Baroness Kate Hoey • Eric Kaufmann • Laila Cunningham • Catherine McBride • Munira Mirza • Lord Jack McConnell • Tom Slater • Mark Seddon • Josh Howie • Alan Miller • Steve Baker • Allison Pearson • Adam Wren • Kathleen Stock • Ameer Kotecha • Jake Wallis Simons • AND MANY MORE Please note: refunds may be subject to non-refundable Eventbrite fees.