Kick-Starter Programme London 2026

Want to get a taste of working in media and the arts from within the world’s largest ideas and music festival?

About the Programme

We’re on the hunt for enthusiastic and dedicated people to join our Kick-Starter Programme, a skills development programme for young people (or the young at heart) interested in the media or creative industries who are looking to gain valuable experience for their future careers. You will volunteer alongside our fun and friendly festival team to produce HowTheLightGetsIn London 2026, from the 19-20th September!

The festival is a unique event which sees world-leading thinkers and performers gather at our beautiful festival location at Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath. Not only will you learn new skills and meet new friends and contacts, you will also get the unique experience of seeing festival debates, live music, film, and comedy from behind the scenes as part of our team.

Places on the Festival Kick-Starter Programme are available to people over 18 from around the UK and beyond. Kick-Starters can get involved with a variety of roles, and can expect to gain experience in one or some of the following areas:

Events Management – managing one of our multiple venues means keeping things running on time, ensuring the venue is ready for events to start, and working with both the tech and production team to get everything set up just right for each event.
Production Assistant – playing a key role in the behind-the-scenes of our events, ensuring speakers/musicians/comedians are where they need to be and assisting the production team on prep before events.
Press & Marketing - working with our press team to assist in managing and working with the press over the festival weekend.
Filming & Broadcast Media – working with our film crew to assist in ensuring all of our debates and talks are filmed to the highest quality across the weekend.
Green room and arrivals tent - making sure guests, speakers, and artists are checked in, looked after, and in the right place at the right time.
Subscribers/Premium Lounge - managing our Subscribers and Premium Lounge to ensure our guests and members of the press are looked after.

Kick-starters must be available from Friday 18th September - Sunday 20th September, as we run training sessions on the Friday.

Kickstarter applications for HowTheLightGetsIn London 2026 are now open! Link below to apply:

https://howthelightgetsin.regfox.com/htlgi-london-kick-starters-2026

If you have any questions about the Programme, please email kickstarter@artandideas.org

Volunteer

Stewards

Kick-Starters

Student Ambassadors

FIlm Crew Volunteers