Latitude Festival returns to Henham Park, Suffolk, from 24 to 27 July 2025, ushering in a bold new chapter for literature, ideas, and live conversation. This year, the Listening Post and the newly expanded Latitude Bookshop host an exhilarating programme of bestselling authors, acclaimed podcasters, cultural commentators, and original thinkers. Tickets are on sale now.
From powerful spoken word and sharp political insight to live podcasts and literary deep-dives, the Listening Post offers a front-row seat to the stories and ideas shaping our world. Meanwhile, the Latitude Bookshop becomes a vibrant space for readings, signings, and intimate Q&As. Curated to complement the Listening Post, it celebrates the written word in all its forms, including fiction, memoir, essays, and radical ideas, and invites festivalgoers to discover, debate, and delve deeper into today’s most vital conversations.
Alongside this literary feast, Latitude 2025 will also showcase a dynamic programme of live performance, including an exciting dance and theatre season featuring leading UK and international companies. From innovative choreography to electrifying movement and captivating storytelling, dance and theatre will bring fresh energy and creative pulse to the festival’s diverse artistic offering.
Melvin Benn, Latitude founder and Festival Director, said, “Latitude Festival has long been a place where creativity sparks conversation, and in 2025, we are amplifying our literary presence like never before. With an expanded Listening Post and a fully programmed Bookshop, alongside a bold new theatre and dance programme, this year’s lineup not only entertains and inspires but also reinforces our commitment to storytelling, bold ideas, cultural discourse, and live performance.”
Across the weekend, audiences can expect a rich mix of thought-provoking storytelling, fearless journalism, and standout comedy. From page-turners to punchlines, Latitude 2025 brings together the sharpest minds and biggest voices for a weekend of conversation, connection, and creativity
Further enhancing the comedy lineup, Latitude 2025 will feature some of the sharpest comedic voices around, promising a night filled with wit, satire, and brilliantly crafted storytelling. Jordan Gray will return after her smash-hit Is It a Bird?, showcasing her signature blend of bold social commentary and musical hilarity that demonstrates why she’s one of the UK’s fastest-rising comedy stars. A Latitude favourite, Marcus Brigstocke will deliver razor-sharp satire on politics, pop culture, and the absurdities of modern life, all with his trademark charm and intelligence. Jin Hao Li will bring a fresh perspective with effortlessly funny observations, sharp storytelling and a unique take on identity, society, whilst Lee Peart will light up the arena with his quick wit and relatable humour, riffing on British life, personal anecdotes, and pop culture.
Latitude Festival’s Listening Post returns for 2025 with an extraordinary line-up of voices from the worlds of literature, film, politics, art, and performance. Across the weekend, audiences can expect a rich blend of live podcasts, powerful spoken-word, thought-provoking panels, and unforgettable conversations with cultural icons and rising stars alike.
Among this year’s most anticipated talks is an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Booker Prize Foundation, as novelist, critic and judge for the 2025 Booker Prize Chris Power sits down with Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation. With the 2025 longlist announcement just days away from Latitude, the pair will delve into what it takes to read like a judge, from tackling 150 books in seven months to re-reading the final contenders multiple times in pursuit of a single winner. Wood reflects on the unique chemistry that shapes each judging panel, and why literary excellence is only part of the equation:
Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, says:
‘At the Booker Prize Foundation, our aim is to bring the world’s best fiction to as many readers as possible, so we are excited to be partnering with Latitude for the first time. Selecting the judges for the Booker Prize each year must be a bit like the balancing act of programming a festival – we seek talent from across the cultural world, choosing the panel based not only on their literary expertise and tastes, but on their potential alchemy: how their personal experiences will inform their ability to work with one another to choose a longlist that can offer something to many different kinds of reader.
‘The one thing all judges need is the ability to read widely, closely and quickly – on average our judges read 150 books in seven months to select their longlist, before re-reading those 13 books twice more to choose their shortlist and winner. One of the things judges get asked the most by the public is how they tackle the reading. Which is why I’m delighted that just a few days ahead of the Booker Prize 2025 longlist announcement, I will be in conversation with novelist, short story writer, literary critic, broadcaster and Booker Prize 2025 judge Chris Power at Latitude, catching up on how his judging year is going, discussing what he thinks makes a prize-winning book, and sharing tips on how to read like a Booker Prize judge.’
Bringing humour and heart in equal measure, comedian and writer Adam Buxton returns to Latitude to celebrate the release of his new memoir, I Love You, Byeee: Adventures in Rambleland. In his signature rambling style, Buxton reflects on parenthood, ageing, Bowie, and grief. He’ll be joined on stage with a musician for an off-the-cuff conversation that blends big laughs with warm reflection. This special session will be recorded live for Virgin Radio.
Film lovers are in for a treat as broadcaster and critic Anna Smith brings her award-winning podcast Girls on Film to the festival for a live episode. She’s joined by a powerhouse panel of actor-director Romola Garai, the endlessly entertaining Susan Wokoma, and the inimitable Jane Horrocks. Together, they’ll unpack the ways women are portrayed on screen, how representation shapes reality, and the personal stories that have fuelled their careers in film.
Audiences can look forward to intimate, thought-provoking moments with two special sessions that explore the personal and political power of words and ideas. In The Poetry Exchange: Poems as Friends, actors and poets Michael Shaeffer, Roy McFarlane, and Hannah Jane Walker invite festivalgoers to reflect on the poems that have offered comfort, sparked change, or simply helped make sense of the world. Meanwhile, in Elfonomics, comedian Elf Lyons teams up with her economist father, Dr Gerard Lyons, to the arts can teach us about economics — and why everyone should be an artist.
The Independent joins the Listening Post for the first time with a live conversation set to dive deep into the cultural and political issues shaping today’s world. Full details are under wraps, but expect fearless journalism and a headline guest from the festival’s music line-up.
Bringing insight and candour, journalist and broadcaster John Pienaar will take the stage to untangle the biggest political stories of the moment. Known for his sharp analysis and calm authority, Pienaar will guide audiences through today’s political landscape with clarity, wit, and a few provocations along the way.
Elsewhere, Mark Kermode teams up with YouTuber and screenwriter Jack Howard for an entertaining and insightful conversation about cinema. Expect a fast-paced, genre-hopping discussion from two passionate film lovers as they debate everything from guilty pleasures to auteur theory, with plenty of laughs along the way.
Art critic Zarina Muhammad, better known as The White Pube, along with fellow critic Gabrielle de la Puente, joins the bill to discuss the pair’s acclaimed book, Poor Artists. Blending fiction and personal testimony, Zarina will delve into the book that tells the story of a young creative navigating capitalism and compromise, raising vital questions about who gets to make art and at what cost.
Hayden Thorpe, the magnetic voice behind Wild Beasts, brings his signature blend of lyricism, mysticism and melody to the stage in a rare and unforgettable solo appearance.
The University of East Anglia presents a timely panel exploring the complexities of free speech in an increasingly fractured world. As debates rage on social media and in universities, this session brings together cultural commentators and academics to reflect on the boundaries between open expression and community protection.
Newscast, the BBC’s flagship current affairs podcast, arrives for a live edition packed with insight, humour and context. Regular hosts will be joined by surprise guests to unpack the week’s biggest headlines, and festivalgoers will get the chance to put their questions to the panel.
Author Irvine Welsh, best known for Trainspotting, sits down for a live recording of The Penguin Podcast. In a wide-ranging conversation about the objects that shaped his life and career, Welsh shares personal reflections on creativity, chaos, rave culture and political rage, all delivered with his trademark grit and surreal wit.
With lyrical power, spoken-word artist and mental health advocate Grace Willow brings an emotional and empowering performance to the stage. Her words cut through stigma and celebrate vulnerability as strength, reminding audiences that art can heal as much as it challenges.
From literary deep-dives to political fire-starters, rambling memoirs to cinematic reflections, this year’s Listening Post is a must-visit destination for anyone who values stories, ideas, and the voices shaping our cultural moment.
The Latitude Bookshop is a vibrant hub of literary activity at the festival, offering a rich programme of talks, readings, and discussions that celebrate the power of storytelling in all its forms. Already announced, the Bookshop’s 2025 season features three major partnerships: with broadcaster and nature writer Martha Kearney, the National Poetry Centre, founded by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and Faber.
Simon Armitage said, “A festival isn’t a festival anymore without the sound of poetry in the speaker systems and escaping from tents. In our selection of poets for Latitude, we’ve aimed to reflect the rich variety of contemporary work – stage, page, stand-up, sit-down, singing, ranting, whispering, thinking…writing! Come along and hear and see them – and bring your hands with you because you’ll want to applaud.’”
Faber will take over the Bookshop on Saturday, celebrating their rich literary heritage with events featuring a remarkable lineup of artists and music innovators sharing stories of creativity and cultural influence. Artist and musician Cosey Fanni Tutti discusses her boundary-pushing career, from co-founding industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle to exploring feminism and performance art, in conversation about her memoir Re-Sisters, which explores the radical voices of herself, electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire, and medieval visionary Margery Kempe.
Producer and cultural icon Joe Boyd, known for discovering Nick Drake, Pink Floyd, and Fairport Convention, will reflect on his influential memoir White Bicycles, sharing vivid stories from the 1960s music scene and collaborations with legends like Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters.
Broadcaster and music enthusiast Elizabeth Alker brings her cross-genre passion to Latitude, drawing on her BBC Radio 3 and 6 Music experience to explore music’s transformative power in her memoir Everything We Do Is Music. Her storytelling highlights music’s ability to heal, inspire, and connect across diverse backgrounds.
Grammy-winning producer Arthur Baker, a pioneer in hip-hop, electro, and dance music, will discuss his legacy and creative process behind iconic remixes for artists like Afrika Bambaataa and New Order. His memoir, Looking for the Perfect Beat offers an insider’s view on the evolution of music production and remix culture.
The National Poetry Centre presents a vibrant and diverse line-up featuring Fawzia Muradali Kane, a Trinidadian architect and poet whose forthcoming collection Guaracara explores her Indo-Caribbean heritage and the legacy of the cane sugar industry; Desree, an award-winning spoken word artist and writer whose debut collection Altar challenges the concept of sacrifice and has been named a Poetry Book Society recommendation for 2025; Ellen McAteer, poet, songwriter, and founder of Glasgow’s “Tell It Slant” poetry bookshop, known for her debut collection My Deep and Gorgeous Thirst; Christy Ku, a London-based poet and facilitator celebrated for her work with the BBC, Sky Arts, and Barbican, and founder of BESEA Poets, a platform amplifying British East and South-East Asian voices; and Geraint Ellis, a Barbican Young Poet and former Scottish National Slam finalist whose work has been recognised by multiple prestigious awards.
In a twist of linguistic joy and absurdity, And Remember We Care… return with Danny Does the Crossword for some clue-filled charm and comic chaos. More than a puzzle session, this interactive event fuses wordplay with performance, unearthing the poetry of crosswords and the strange places they take us.
In the Theatre Arena, storytelling comes alive through breathtaking performances that challenge, inspire, and captivate. This year, Latitude Festival proudly welcomes an electrifying lineup of world-class Australian performances, presented by House of Oz – an award-winning philanthropic and production platform.. This dynamic line-up showcases the creativity, energy, and innovation of Australia’s best, blending internationally renowned artists with exciting newcomers to deliver unforgettable theatre experiences ahead of their Edinburgh Fringe runs.
Leading the charge is the already announced Gravity & Other Myths with their international smash hit Ten Thousand Hours. Famous for their breathtaking acrobatics and raw physicality, this dynamic company delivers a thrilling tribute to the dedication and passion behind true mastery. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat, captivated by feats performed with heart, humour, and undeniable Aussie spirit.
Following sell-out international seasons, the multi-award-winning Lewis Major brings Triptych, a stunning fusion of movement, light and design, exploring poetic possibilities, universal rhythms and non-duality. His production promises to stir deep emotions, leaving audiences spellbound.
Cabaret powerhouse Michelle Pearson presents Skinny, a vibrant and urgent show challenging toxic diet culture through soaring vocals and heartfelt storytelling. Celebrating self-acceptance and redefining beauty, Skinny is a timely and compelling performance not to be missed.
Award-winning playwright Madelaine Nunn presents FLICK, a darkly comic and gripping one-woman show about life, death, and difficult choices. A sell-out hit from Adelaide Fringe, FLICK blends sharp wit with emotional depth and is set to captivate Latitude audiences.
Across the weekend, LYR, the genre-defying trio fronted by UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, alongside musician Richard Walters and producer Patrick Pearson, also return. Fusing spoken word with ambient post-rock, LYR creates powerful soundscapes where poetic narratives meet soaring melodies and textured instrumentation. It is a project that lives at the crossroads of literature and music.
Get ready for euphoric music, joy and glittering sermon as House of Life brings its cult cabaret spectacular to Latitude. Led by the flamboyant RaveRend and house band The Trevettes, this one-night-only event blends rave, ritual and ridiculousness in a celebration of togetherness. After a smash-hit run at Edinburgh, The Guardian hailed it as “a glittering benediction from a joyously funky double act.”
Experience Shakespeare as you’ve never seen before with Dysphoria Arts and Twice Shy Theatre’s Shakespearean Cabaret. This high-octane revue fuses the Bard’s iconic scenes with the wild spirit of festival performance, featuring aerial artistry, puppetry, and original music. It’s a dazzling blend of homage and rebellion, perfect for those who appreciate classic literature with a contemporary twist.
This summer, the Waterfront Stage will become a vibrant playground of movement and music, curated by leading UK dance organisations DanceEast, The Place and London City Ballet.
DanceEast brings a thrilling collection of performances to the stage. James Wilton Dance presents BACH Reimagined, a compelling collision of baroque music and fiercely physical choreography. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures shares the tender duet My Feet Don’t Quite Touch the Ground, part of their Doorstep Duets series, exploring themes of connection and transition with trademark sensitivity.
Seeta Patel’s Rite of Spring offers a bold reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s iconic score through the lens of classical Indian dance, bringing spiritual power and rhythmical fire to the stage. Jeanefer Jean-Charles introduces Patois, a vibrant and energetic exploration of Caribbean language and identity that celebrates heritage through movement. Stopgap Dance Company’s RO-TES is an evolving, sculptural work that blends improvisation, access, and architecture in a striking live performance.
London City Ballet returns in a triumphant revival with Soft Shore, a graceful and emotionally rich work that marks a new era for this legendary company.
The Place presents a fresh wave of boundary-pushing artistry with Ọkan: Creation, a deeply expressive journey through heritage and transformation.
Elsewhere, Almost Synchro dives headfirst into dry-land synchronised swimming with sharp humour and unexpected harmony, while The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave is a euphoric, high-energy celebration of queer identity and freedom, fusing storytelling, rave culture and pure joy. For little festivalgoers and their grown-ups, Monsky Mouse returns with her iconic Baby Disco.