Now is not the time to shy away from the big and difficult questions. Trouble is, big and difficult questions don’t have small and simple answers. Blind optimism gets us nowhere but there’s no point being fatalistic either. 

The Ideas Programme is organised into six themes. Each theme will crop up in different events over the weekend – you can speak up and join in, or just listen and absorb. Go deep into the one that really floats your boat, or do a bit of everything. 

In Power, we’re aiming to close the gap between the powerful and the powerless. Does inequality have to be inevitable?

In Planet, we’re taking a pro-active, positive and practical approach to the climate emergency. Inaction is not an option, so what now?

In Culture, we consider the evolution of the arts as a social movement in a digital age. Film, music, TV, gaming, books, dance, podcasts… it’s not who you are, but what you’re into that counts. Who and what brings us joy?

Belonging is about civil rights. As human beings, we all feel the need to belong – but modern identity politics sometimes feels like all-out tribal warfare. Expect confrontation and compromise in some of the most challenging but important conversations of our time. What binds us together, what drives us apart?

Health is about life, death and other stories. From dementia to pseudoscience, illegal drugs to the gut microbiome. How are you feeling? How can we all live better? We are all, after all, flesh and blood. 

Technology explores the morals and miracles of the new world order that has crept up on us all, redefining what’s possible and, inadvertently, forcing us to rethink what’s acceptable. What’s possible, what’s ethical, what’s next?

And finally, there is Comedy. And that is likely to mix all of the above in a very fun way.