Speakers

Explore the HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2025 Festival Speaker Lineup

From Britain's most influential politicians to distinguished neuroscientists, Nobel Prize-winners to acclaimed novelists, our lineup is brimming with the game-changers and thought-leaders across philosophy, science, politics and the arts - and there's much, much more to come!

Book Your Tickets Now

A contemplative man with a beard, wearing a blue shirt, resting his hand on his face, appears deep in thought against a plain background.

Slavoj Žižek

Maverick philosopher
A man with curly gray hair wearing a striped suit and a colorful tie speaks passionately at a presentation, gesturing with his hands.

Steven Pinker

Psychologist - Joining from Massachusetts
A woman with a warm smile stands in front of a wooden wall, wearing a black cardigan over a white shirt.

Lionel Shriver

Author of 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'
A contemplative middle-aged man with a beard, wearing a tweed jacket, rests his chin on his hand against a light background.

Jeremy Corbyn

Former leader of the Labour Party
A smiling woman with long, brown hair, wearing a black sweater, gestures while speaking in front of a chalkboard filled with mathematical equations.

Claudia de Rham

Celebrated theoretical physicist
A elderly man with gray hair, wearing a zippered sweater, speaking at an event with bright lights in the background.

Roger Penrose

Nobel Laureate
A man with shoulder-length hair smiles, wearing a black vest over a purple shirt, against a light background with abstract blue patterns.

Shashi Tharoor

Leading Indian Politician and Author
Portrait of a young man with braided hair wearing a beige cap, a black t-shirt, and a soft sweater against a plain brown background.

Jordan Stephens

Artist and mental health advocate
Nicola Sturgeon, wearing a red blazer and patterned scarf, gazes thoughtfully to the side against a neutral backdrop.

Nicola Sturgeon

Former first minister of Scotland
A man in a suit raises his fist while speaking at a podium, displaying a serious expression in front of a blue backdrop.

Yanis Varoufakis

Former Greek Finance Minister
A smiling man in a suit with a turquoise tie stands in front of a historical building, featuring a statue in the background.

Richard Tice

Deputy leader of Reform
A smiling woman with dark, shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a colorful scarf and a leather jacket, poses against a soft, blurred background.

Inaya Folarin Iman

Prominent Political Analyst
A middle-aged man with gray, wavy hair and glasses smiles warmly against a dark background, wearing a light gray sweater.

Carlo Rovelli

Pioneering physicist - Joining from Ontario
A man with long curly hair and a beard, wearing a dark sweater, poses outdoors against a wooden fence.

Robert Sapolsky

Neuroscientist - Joining from California
A confident woman with a headscarf poses against a neutral background, wearing a dark blazer and subtle makeup that highlights her features.

Myriam François

Award winning presenter
Indeterminate person smiling, with short, curly brown hair, wearing a blue sweater against a light background.
New

Barbara Tversky

Leading Psychologist
A middle-aged man with glasses and light gray hair, wearing a beige blazer and purple shirt, gazes intently at the camera against a blue background.
New

David Starkey

Acclaimed British historian
A smiling man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark blazer, seated in an office with bookshelves in the background.

Paul Bloom

Leading psychologist of Human Nature
A man in a jacket passionately speaking at an event, gesturing with his hand, microphone attached, expressing enthusiasm and engagement.

Jesse Norman

Shadow Leader of the House
A smiling woman with short hair and glasses wearing a leather jacket, seated against a concrete wall, appears to be engaged in conversation.

Catherine Liu

Cultural Critic
A middle-aged man with glasses and a green sweater poses against a floral-patterned wallpaper, exuding a serious demeanor.

Malcolm Rifkind

Former Secretary of State for Defence
A young man with dark hair and a contemplative expression sits indoors, resting his finger on his chin, surrounded by greenery.

Aaron Maté

Independent journalist
A woman with curly hair wearing glasses and a pink knitted sweater, standing in front of a decorative background.

Michelle Terry

Olivier Award Recipient
A woman with short blonde hair and a patterned blue and black blouse stands against a plain gray background, looking directly at the camera.

Joanna Dunkley

Princeton Astrophysicist of the Early Universe
I don't know who they are.

Alenka Zupančič

Eminent philosopher and psychoanalyst
A man with tousled hair and a serious expression, wearing a white shirt and dark suit jacket, stands against a light background.
New

Hilary Lawson

Post-postmodern philosopher
A man with a beard and wearing a brown jacket is seated in an art gallery, with paintings visible in the background.

Roman Yampolskiy

Prominent AI safety researcher
A man in a white shirt stands confidently with arms crossed, set against a backdrop of urban apartment buildings.
New

Aaron Bastani

Co-founder of Novara Media
A middle-aged man in a suit with gray hair looks thoughtfully to the side against a dark background.
New

Karl Friston

Influential Neuroscientist
A woman with short brown hair and glasses poses confidently, wearing a striped blazer and bright orange top, set against a scenic waterfront backdrop.

Thangam Debbonaire

Cultural strategist
A woman with long, light brown hair, wearing a gray shirt, looks thoughtfully towards the ocean in the background, reflecting a contemplative mood.
New

Alyssa Ney

Philosopher of Quantum Mechanics
A woman in a blue outfit passionately discusses a topic during a broadcast, gesturing with her hand against an orange background.
New

Sherelle Jacobs

Leading conservative journalist
A smiling man with glasses stands outdoors, surrounded by greenery, showcasing a joyful expression in a natural setting.
New

Paul Dolan

Happiness expert
An individual with wavy gray hair is speaking, set against a softly lit, historic interior with columns and warm lighting.
New

David Albert

Celebrated Philosopher of Physics
A professional man with glasses and a suit sits thoughtfully, with bookshelves filled with volumes in the background.

Daniel Markovits

Chief critic of Meritocracy
A middle-aged woman with brown hair and glasses, wearing a green sweater with floral embroidery, stands against a blue background.

Elizabeth Anderson

Philosopher of Equality
A distinguished older man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a tweed jacket and a dark shirt, appears outdoors against a blurred natural background.
New

Frank Furedi

Outspoken cultural critic
A woman with long brown hair wearing a black jacket and distinctive earrings, posed against a light blue background.
New

Jessica Frazier

Philosopher of the East
A smiling middle-aged man with a beard, wearing a gray collared shirt, set against a plain background.

David Goodhart

Boundary-pushing journalist
A middle-aged man with gray hair and glasses, dressed in a black turtleneck and blazer, stands against a colorful abstract background.
New

Robert Lawrence Kuhn

Creator of Closer to Truth
A smiling woman with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a red cardigan over a white shirt, stands in front of a blackboard with diagrams.
New

Daniela Gabor

Progressive Economic Theorist
Portrait of a man with gray hair and a serious expression, wearing a blazer over a collared shirt, set against a blue background.

Adam Phillips

Renowned psychotherapist
An older man with curly gray hair, wearing a black jacket, speaks calmly in a natural setting with greenery in the background.

Avshalom Elitzur

Radical physicist and philosopher
A woman with long dark hair speaks during a presentation, wearing a denim jacket in front of a green background.

Ivette Fuentes

Pioneering Quantum Physics Professor
A man with long hair and sunglasses stands outdoors, wearing a brown jacket over a black shirt, with a thoughtful expression against a blurred green background.

Tim Maudlin

Philosopher of Physics
A woman with short, curly gray hair and glasses stands smiling in front of a textured stone wall, wearing a patterned blue and white blouse.
New

Ingrid Robeyns

Visionary political philosopher
A smiling elderly woman with short hair stands confidently at a wooden door, wearing a white blouse and a necklace, exuding warmth and friendliness.
New

Gina Rippon

Trailblazing Neuroscientist
I don't know who they are.
New

Raphael Bousso

Theoretical Physicist
A smiling woman with long brown hair and glasses poses in a garden filled with flowers and greenery, wearing a black shirt and earrings.
New

Lucy Allais

Leading Kantian philosopher
Adult man with glasses and a beard, wearing a corduroy jacket, posed against a light grey background.

Josh Cohen

Author and psychoanalyst
A young woman with shoulder-length wavy hair, wearing a beige collared shirt, poses against a backdrop of horizontal wooden slats.
New

Camilla Nord

Award-winning Neuroscientist and Author
A woman with dark, chin-length hair and a blunt fringe poses against a neutral background, wearing a black top and looking directly at the camera.

Catherine Mayer

Journalist and Activist
A man with a shaved head and beard poses confidently against a textured background, wearing a dark jacket and shirt.
New

Dean Rickles

Philosopher of Modern Physics
A middle-aged man in a suit stands outdoors against a backdrop of green foliage, looking directly at the camera.
New

John Kay

Renowned Economist
A man with glasses and short hair speaks passionately, gesturing with his hands against a backdrop featuring a logo or emblem.

Steve Fuller

Acclaimed sociologist
A smiling woman with long dark hair wearing a red floral top, against a neutral background.

Shini Somara

Leading science communicator
A smiling man with glasses stands in front of a blackboard filled with mathematical equations and symbols, wearing a blue checkered shirt.
New

Jacob Barandes

Leading Philosopher of Physics
A man with tousled hair in a dark suit stands in a run-down industrial space with peeling walls.
New

Norman Ohler

Award-winning Novelist
Portrait of a middle-aged woman with curly gray hair and blue eyes, wearing a black top and a decorative necklace. She has a serious expression.
New

Joanna Moncrieff

Trailblazing Psychiatrist
A smiling man with a beard and glasses, wearing a black blazer over a light blue shirt, sitting in an office with framed pictures in the background.
New

Alex Rosenberg

Novelist and philosopher
I don't know who they are.

Massimo Pigliucci

Celebrated Stoic Philosopher
A young woman with long hair and a braid smiles confidently against a colorful, abstract pink and orange backdrop.

Rachel Thompson

Author and Relationship Expert
I don't know who they are.
New

Anders Sandberg

Leading expert on global risk
A portrait of a woman with long, wavy brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a dark blazer against a plain white background.

Sophie Scott-Brown

Intellectual Historian
I don't know who they are.

Claudia Canavan

Health Editor and Journalist
A woman with short, dark hair poses in a dimly lit room, wearing a black button-up shirt and looking directly at the camera.
New

Emily Herring

Trailblazing biographer and philosopher
A smiling woman with curly hair wearing a brown coat and a red and black checkered scarf stands in front of a backdrop of colorful autumn foliage and wrought iron fencing.

Nadine Dijkstra

Senior Researcher in Human Neuroimaging
A middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a dark shirt, poses for a portrait against a dark background.
New

John Dupré

Philosopher of science
A middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, wearing a patterned blouse, stands in a well-lit interior, smiling gently.

Isabel Hilton

Broadcaster and China expert
A middle-aged man with glasses and short silver hair sits in front of a microphone, conveying a thoughtful expression in an indoor setting.

Yaron Brook

Radical for Capitalism
A woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a black blazer, smiling in front of a display with pastel backgrounds and text.

Güneş Taylor

Award-winning geneticist
A middle-aged man in a dark blazer sits confidently, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, framed by a softly blurred background.

Eric Kaufmann

Political commentator on race
I don't know who they are.

Joanna Kavenna

Acclaimed novelist
A woman with short, wavy hair wearing a black top and pearls sits resting her chin on her hands against a stone wall in a green outdoor setting.

Janne Teller

Critically acclaimed novelist
A young man with short, styled hair smiles while speaking into a microphone at a podium, wearing a white shirt.

John Burn Murdoch

Renowned data journalist
A confident middle-aged Black woman with a short haircut, wearing a black shirt and circular earrings, gazes directly at the camera against a soft, neutral background.
New

Winsome Pinnock

Groundbreaking Playwright
A smiling man with a bald head and a beard, wearing a light blue shirt, poses against a dark background.
New

Alva Noë

Pioneering Philosopher of Consciousness
A man with short, light hair and a black jacket smiles outdoors, against a backdrop of hills and the sea.
New

Harvey Whitehouse

Pioneering Anthropologist
A middle-aged man with short, light hair and a beard, dressed in a suit, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
New

Barry Smith

Philosopher of the senses
A man in a dark blazer and light blue tie sits casually against a wall, looking directly at the camera with a composed expression.
New

Edward Harcourt

Philosopher and Wittgenstein expert
A middle-aged man with a beard and gray hair, wearing a suit, appears to be engaged in a serious discussion or argument.
New

Roger Hearing

Veteran Journalist and Presenter
A young man with short black hair and a light blue shirt poses outdoors in front of a brick wall covered with greenery.
New

Timothy Nguyen

Leading AI researcher
A confident professional woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing a navy blazer over a white top, poses with crossed arms against a light gray background.
New

Juliet Samuel

Times Columnist
A young woman with long dark hair, wearing a black turtleneck, sits in front of a bookshelf filled with books and a plant.
New

Avantika Chilkoti

Writer at The Economist
A smiling man with short, styled hair and a light beard, wearing a casual gray V-neck shirt against a plain background.
New

Bjørn Ekeberg

Radical Philosopher of Science
A mature man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a dark suit jacket over a light blue shirt, poses against a gray background.
New

Tim Jackson

Ecological economist and writer
A middle-aged man with short, graying hair and a serious expression is seated indoors, dressed in a blue blazer and light blue shirt, with books in the background.
New

Matthew Taylor

Political strategist
A woman with dark hair stands behind a podium, gesturing as she speaks, wearing a dark-colored outfit and a triangular pendant necklace.
New

Karen Crowther

Philosopher of Physics
A man in a black blazer with a white shirt stands outdoors, smiling in front of a historic brick building and lush greenery.
New

Karsten Juhl Jørgensen

Medical Researcher
A middle-aged man with dark hair and a slight smile, wearing a patterned shirt, poses against a neutral background.
New

Bill Hayton

Distiguished former BBC journalist
A smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair rests her chin on her hand, wearing a light-colored top and silver bracelets, seated against a neutral background.
New

Suzanne Livingston

AI Expert and philosopher
A smiling woman with short, wavy hair wearing a black turtleneck sweater, posing against a soft gradient background in shades of pink and orange.
New

Claire Blencowe

Leading Scholar of Biopolitics
I'm sorry, but I can't identify the individual in the image.
New

Eliahu Cohen

Expert in quantum engineering
A person with long green hair smiles in front of a brick wall, wearing a light blue top.
New

Maria Balaet

Leading Psychedelics Researcher
A young man with light brown hair, wearing a dark shirt, engaged in discussion against a vibrant red and orange abstract background.
New

James Schneider

Leading Left-wing Strategist

Book Your Tickets Now