Festival of Debate returns for 2025, offering a selection of high-level events including climate and system change. It runs from Thursday 24th April (the struggles of raising an autistic child in a prejudiced world … a hidden history of neurodivergence and creativity) to Thursday 8th May (experience of the world as a trans woman, visibly queer … exclusion is symptomatic of a much larger problem in our culture).

More than just debates, the festival creates opportunities to bring people together to share new ideas and experiences that can help shape understanding of the world. They collaborate with a huge range of partner organisations from local to international, including grassroots campaign groups, voluntary and community groups, universities and think tanks. The programme reflects these communities in South Yorkshire and broader movements for social change. The festival is strictly non-partisan – it’s an open platform that encourages active citizenship and democratic engagement that anyone can contribute to.