A warm welcome to Festival of the Mind 2026! Fifteen years after we began planning in 2011 and eight festivals strong, this edition holds a deeply personal significance for me. As I step down as Festival Director to return to my community of scholars in the School of English, I find myself looking back on an extraordinary journey. I’m immensely proud of the cultural legacy we have built together for Sheffield, while brimming with excitement for what is our most ambitious festival yet.
The spark for Festival of the Mind came from a simple conversation with my friend and collaborator and local sculptor Anthony Bennett. We realised that the university needed to do far more to demonstrate its deep roots in Sheffield, and we wanted an event that mirrored our own relationship, bringing the city’s creative talent together with academic research. With the vital support of Professor Richard Jones and Professor Tony Ryan, we secured a £1 million UKRI grant, matched by the university, and pitched a bold new concept: taking research directly to the city through artistic collaborations. It was a high-stakes risk at the time, but Sheffield has always led the way. We launched our very first ‘Ideas Bazaar’, a networking event run by the University of Sheffield that connects academic researchers with South Yorkshire’s creative community, and we never looked back!
Over the past fifteen years that single idea has grown into a cultural landmark. We have facilitated over 800 researchers sharing their world-leading work with hundreds of thousands of visitors, proving that university research belongs to everyone. Our events have always been free and open to all, and always reflected the rich, dynamic diversity of Sheffield’s communities.
The 2026 festival is the ultimate culmination of that vision. Our mission remains simple: to entertain, inspire and engage. This year, alongside our usual beloved venues Millenium Gallery, Winter Gardens, and Persistence Works we are excited to welcome you to our new venue, Channing Hall on Surrey Street. Through live performances, immersive exhibitions, and pioneering digital platforms like the University of Sheffield Player, we are extending the wonder of our research further than ever before.
Directing the festival and embedding it into the cultural fabric of Sheffield has truly been incredible for me. I’m so deeply grateful to our researchers, creative partners and above all the people of Sheffield who embraced the vision from day one. Building this festival from the ground up has brought me more joy than words can say. Stepping down, my heart is overflowing, my only wish as I pass the torch is that you stay curious, embrace the wonder, and enjoy every single minute of the Festival of the Mind 2026.