1,541 sessions across 6 days.
Here are the ones worth your time.

Zumba Morning Workout

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Zumba + Lift Morning Workout

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Waymo Studio + Cafe

Protein Studios · Waymo Activation 1

Open Monday-Thursday 09.00am-5.30pm. Experience the future of mobility at Waymo Studio + Cafe in Protein Studios. Grab a cuppa and see firsthand how our fully autonomous, sustainable and accessible driver will integrate into London transportation network.

Zumba Morning Workout

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Women In Tech Policy's Breakfast Meet Up

Dishoom · Outside Veranda

This breakfast meet-up is hosted by Women In Tech Policy. Please note, it s first come first served - entry closes once capacity is full. Arrive early as spaces are limited. Founded in 2024, WITP is the UK s community for mid- and senior-career women working at the intersection of public affairs, digital policy, and tech. Starting as an informal network, WITP has grown to over 500 members women at the forefront of digital innovation and governance. The network works to promote the importance of women s voices, experiences and skills in the tech and digital policy landscape and deliver a space for women in this sector to connect over work, life, policy, technology and the digital agenda.

Zumba + Lift Morning Workout

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Official UK House Opening: Sir Chris Bryant, Minister for Trade, Department for Business and Trade in conversation with British actor, Hugh Bonneville

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

Zumba Taster

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Expo

Truman Brewery

Exposing Power: The Epstein Files, Censorship, and the Fight for the Truth

Protein Studios · Stage 2

This panel brings together Drop Site s Murtaza Hussain and Publisher Nika Soon-Shiong, Drop Site News pursued what others wouldn t: Epstein s deep ties to intelligence agencies, his leverage over world leaders, and the machinery that protected him for decades. The panel will explore what Drop Site s reporting has uncovered about Epstein s relationships with intelligence powers across the globe and what can be done in the UK. Attendees will also get an exclusive first look at a new short film chronicling Jmail, Drop Site s groundbreaking investigative series on the Epstein files.

Opening Remarks

Protein Studios · Stage 1

Opening Remarks

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

Welcome Address

Truman Brewery · SXSW London Stage

Step into the spirit of SXSW London with our Welcome Address a bold beginning to a week of boundary-pushing ideas, culture, and creativity. Expect a few surprises, including a very special guest who will help us set the stage for what s to come. This isn t just a welcome it s an invitation to think big, dream loud, and dive headfirst into the unexpected.

Why Business Objectives Benefit From Better Story

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

.

Zumba Taster

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Wild Innovation: Bees Solving Human-Elephant Conflict in Africa

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

Did you know elephants are scared of bees? As Africa s population rapidly grows, farmland expands into ancient elephant corridors, making human-elephant conflict one of the biggest threats to their survival. But a brilliantly simple solution is changing the story: beehive fences. When elephants disturb the fences, the bees gently deter them without harm. Meanwhile, crops are pollinated, women harvest and sell honey, and communities thrive. Through our How Many Elephants Beehive Fences in Tanzania, human-elephant conflict incidents have reduced by 91%. In a high-tech world, this is innovation rooted in nature and led by women on the conservation frontline.

Fast-Tracking AI & STEM Skills for the Next Generation

Protein Studios · Stage 1

As AI reshapes the future of work, people need practical skills, real-world learning experiences and clear pathways into a rapidly evolving workforce. Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President and Chief Impact Officer at IBM, and Jason Arthur, CEO of Mission 44, will discuss how their organisations are working together to expand access, aspiration and achievement in AI and STEM skills for the next generation through IBM SkillsBuild. They ll explore how the energy of motorsport can make AI and STEM more tangible by showing high school students how technology powers real industries and opens exciting new career pathways. This conversation will unveil what it takes to turn inspiration into opportunity and why cross-sector partnerships are critical to participating in an AI economy.

Opening Remarks

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 1

Love (AI)ctually

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 1

As AI evolves from a productivity tool into an emotional presence, the boundaries between human intimacy and algorithmic interaction are blurring. Digital romance is no longer a sci-fi trope, but rather a rapidly growing material reality. How is the automation of care and companionship reshaping our social fabric? Join tech strategist Priscila Chaves in conversation with James Muldoon, author of the provocative new book Love Machines , for a deep dive into the accelerating world of companion AI.

Opening Remarks

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

Opening Remarks

Protein Studios · Stage 2

Chai and Cha(a)t

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

Amid a global climate marked by shifting policies and the rise of far-right narratives, this session offers a welcoming space (complete with chai and chaat) to explore the real workings of the UK immigration system. Join Lee Thompson as they explore personal journeys of navigating immigration pathways and highlight the strategic business considerations that could spark your next chapter of global growth.

Debunking the Myths of Space Waste

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

Join Amazon Leo s Josef Koller, the Science Museum s Libby Koller, and Astroscale s Chris Blackerby for a fact vs. fiction deep dive into the health of our orbit. Is our system actually overwhelmed with space junk? How can we launch thousands of satellites without ruining the night sky? This conversation will dispel common myths to shed light on the engineering and policy required to keep space safe, transparent, and accessible for centuries to come.

THE MISSING MEN - The male midlife majority that culture and brands are ignoring.

Protein Studios · Stage 2

The masculinity debate is raging everywhere. But it s missing a man. While everyone obsesses over the politics, anger and algorithms of young men, millions of men of all ages are quietly living through one of the most significant shifts in gender dynamics. They re not angry, they re not radicalised, they barely know who Andrew Tate is. But they are retreating. They feel invisible marginalised by culture and unacknowledged by those that used to speak to them. ELVIS went out and talked to these men. This session launches this research, and what we found will challenge everything you know about the mass male consumer, shining a light on the huge missed opportunity sitting right in front of brands, entertainment companies, and cultural institutions. In this panel, we ll look to answer a question with real cultural and commercial stakes: How do you reach today s Missing Men? With perspectives from bestselling author, broadcaster and host of the Man Made podcast, Pete Wicks; founder of cultural insight agency The Outsiders, Steven Lacey; and hosted by Will Barren, co-author of The Missing Men research study and Senior Strategist at ELVIS.

Britannia, Caledonia, and Hibernia: An Ibogaine Unity Opportunity

Protein Studios · Stage 1

As interest in psychedelic-assisted therapies continues to grow, this session explores ibogaine s emerging role in addiction recovery, mental health, and veteran care. Bringing together leaders from healthcare, investment, and advocacy, the discussion will examine the opportunities and challenges of building international collaboration, research, and policy around this transformative treatment landscape.

A Culture3 Conversation with Variety at UK House, SXSW London

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

A Culture3 Conversation with Variety at SXSW London explores how the UK s creative industries have become one of the country s most powerful global exports. Hosted by Culture3 in partnership with UK House, the conversation will explore how film, entertainment, storytelling and media exert cultural influence far beyond Britain itself. With Variety bringing Power of Women to London on June 3rd, Co-President and Publisher Dea Lawrence is uniquely placed to speak to how global institutions read and choose markets and what the UK s creative economy looks like from the outside in. Moderated by Katy Wickremesinghe in conversation with Dea Lawrence, this is a rare chance to hear the logic behind a major international cultural bet and what that means for anyone selling British creativity on the world stage.

Zumba Taster

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

How AI Disrupts Change-Resistant Industries

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 1

AI is transforming the world s most regulated, risk-averse industries. Once defined by caution, sectors from law to healthcare must now move fast or fall behind. With legal tech pulling in $2.3B in Q1 2026, this session brings together two leaders at the front line: the CEO of Legora, a $5.6B legal AI company just three years in, and the CEO of Bird Bird, a global law firm and early adopter. The two will offer a rare, unfiltered look at deploying AI where stakes are highest. You ll gain practical insights into strategies for navigating speed vs. compliance, automation vs. human judgment, and turning experimentation into real-world impact.

A Robot Walks Into the Office...

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

Join Nathan Wallace for a thought-provoking exploration of what happens when humanoid robots step off the factory floor and into the spaces where we work, interact, and build our livelihoods. With a Unitree G1 humanoid robot live on stage, this talk moves beyond the headlines to ask the questions that really matter - where does automation genuinely help, where does it threaten, and who decides? From ethical replacements to economic anxiety, from the jobs we should hand over to machines, to the ones that must stay human, this is an honest, optimistic conversation about how we shape the future of work before it shapes us.

Beyond the Average: Understanding Vulnerability in the Digital Childhood Era

Protein Studios · Stage 2

For years, the debate around social media and youth mental health has focused on whether digital technologies are broadly good or bad for young people. Increasingly, however, research suggests the more important question is: for whom, under what circumstances, and at what developmental moments? This session explores how digital experiences affect young people differently based on factors such as age, mental health history, neurodevelopment, sleep, social context, and patterns of engagement. Panelists will discuss the limitations of traditional research approaches, what emerging longitudinal and real-world studies are beginning to reveal, and what new scientific, policy, and public health infrastructure may be needed to better understand and support young people growing up in digital environments.

Only Human

Protein Studios · Stage 1

Nina Hajikhanian doesn t only think of herself as a business leader she is a friend, a family member, a surfer, climber and skier. And most of all, she is a concerned citizen. Without all of this, the business part wouldn t be possible. From empowering employees to get their hands dirty with direct action, tree planting in Albania, to working with refugees who repair thousands of Patagonia products every year, Nina is a passionate advocate for bringing the human touch and a desire to protect planet earth to business arguing that rather than harming the bottom line, it only boldens it. Cecilia McAleavey leads Oatly s global public affairs and advocacy, operating at the forefront of one of the most contested shifts in the food system. Representing a brand grounded in science and driven by a clear mission to challenge unsustainable norms, she navigates the tension of questioning deeply ingrained behaviours often facing both loyalty and backlash. Translating complex, science-based arguments into narratives that resonate, Cecilia shows what it takes to stand firm when your message disrupts the status quo. She draws on reflective, nature-rooted practices and a leadership philosophy based on kindness to build resilience, fostering trust and psychological safety and kindness within her teams. While technology can undoubtedly offer us innovation and shortcuts, our communities and employees can still sniff out what is real and honest. That s why humanity in business and brand building is more important now than ever. In conversation with journalist and broadcaster Keme Nzerem, Nina and Cecilia will share the secrets to creating a human-centred organization and the ripple effects it brings.

The A to Z of Youth audiences – how UK’s music, media and entertainment industries are connecting through Music

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

We welcome you to join the The A to Z of Youth Audiences panel at UK house, hosted by BPI s CEO Dr Jo Twist, our panel features brand and youth specialist leaders from UK industry who will share how their work brings together Gen A and Gen Z to forge stronger ties and connection through music. Hear from our expert panelists from Universal Music UK, F1 VCARB Racing Bulls and Youth Music to discuss their work and also learn more about BPI s latest qualitative study on music connection with Gen A 7-14 year olds which follows up from last years Gen Z seeking community study.

Zumba Taster

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Sound Investments 2026: Music Tech Report Launch

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

MTUK launches Sound Investments, its flagship annual report on investment into the UK music tech sector, produced with KPMG UK. Now in its second year, Sound Investments 2026 will continue to act as the definitive industry reference for investors, policymakers, and senior stakeholders seeking to understand the scale, dynamics, and challenges facing one of the UK s most innovative growth sectors. We re delighted to welcome Minister Ian Murray to share his views on the creative economy. MTUK Chief Executive Matt Cartmell will reveal the findings, followed by a fireside chat with KPMG UK s Nat Gross and Chantal Epp, founder of music tech company ClicknClear.

AI & Quantum: The Future of High‑Performance Vehicles

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

As AI and quantum computing move from experimentation to real‑world impact, the technologies are transforming how high‑performance vehicles are designed and engineered. In this panel, IBM s Alessandro Curioni and Dallara s Andrea Pontremoli will discuss how advanced computing, AI‑driven simulation, and data‑centric design are accelerating innovation. Drawing on the recently announced IBM Dallara collaboration, this conversation will explore how research and industrial expertise come together to unlock new levels of performance, efficiency, and speed.

Whose Social Network Is It, Anyway?

Truman Brewery · SXSW London Stage

Social media is changing fast. Bluesky COO Rose Wang sits down to discuss the shifts underway, from AI tools that let anyone build their own social experiences to the rise of smaller communities. Drawing on Bluesky s growth from an open protocol project to a social network with 43 million users, Rose makes the case for a social internet that works for, and evolves with, the communities on it.

From Viral to Vital: Winning Young Fans for Real

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

tbc

What Could the Future with AI Look Like?

Protein Studios · Stage 2

Join Liam Young, director and artist, described by the BBC as the man designing our futures , alongside Madhumita Murgia, AI Editor at the Financial Times, as they explore what a future shaped by AI could look like. Moderated by Juliet Riddell, Head of New Formats at the Financial Times.

Rewiring the Self

Protein Studios · Stage 1

We re living through the biggest identity shift in modern history. From digital overwhelm to creative multi-hyphenation, people are navigating burnout, reinvention and a rising need for spiritual anchoredness. This panel brings together astrologer Hagan Fox, wellbeing entrepreneur Poppy Jamie, and cultural storyteller Sharmadean Reid to explore how humans can stay emotionally grounded, creatively expansive and mentally well in a world that updates faster than we do.

Informed, Not Overwhelmed: Restoring Confidence in Your News

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

We ve seen the state of news today. AI-generated slop, biased echo chambers, and feeds optimized for doom scrolling have left people feeling overwhelmed and disengaged. We ve lost confidence in our news content and in who or what to trust. Introducing SaySo a video-first news app with curated content from vetted creators, built for people who want to be informed, not overwhelmed. In this session, SaySo will be making its UK debut. Attendees will get an exclusive first-look at how the platform works, from its creator-led content model to the experience of a daily digest curated for you. Following a demo of the platform Huw Allen (@_getthegist) will sit-down with Cydney Adams developer of SaySo to discuss what it means to make content with credibility, in an era when confidence in media has never been lower.

20 Million Babies, One AI IVF Lab

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

IVF began as a Nobel Prize-winning breakthrough. Today it remains stubbornly expensive and inconsistent limited by hundreds of manual lab steps that create variability between embryologists and restrict access worldwide. This session explores how re-engineering the IVF lab with automation, AI precision, and cell-therapy manufacturing principles can dramatically improve outcomes while reducing cost and variability. Drawing on real-world clinical data and pilot results, we ll show how fertility treatment can evolve from artisanal craft to modern medical infrastructure unlocking a future where building families is consistent, scalable, and accessible to everyone who needs it.

Pizzas, People & Purpose: Inside Ooni’s Global Rise

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

In just over a decade, Ooni has gone from a crowdfunding idea launched by two founders in Scotland to one of Britain s most remarkable modern consumer brands. Its pizza ovens are now sold in more than 90 countries, with over 3 million ovens sold worldwide and annual revenues surging from 57m to more than 200m during its extraordinary rise. But the really interesting story is not just the growth. It s how co-founders Darina Garland and Kristian Tapaninaho built a company culture capable of surviving hypergrowth, global expansion and intense operational pressure without losing its creativity, energy or sense of purpose. In this live SXSW London conversation, entrepreneur, UK Board of Trade advisor and Next Gen CEO author Mike Soutar sits down with Darina to explore the leadership principles, founder dynamics and strategic decisions behind Ooni s rise from Kickstarter startup to category-defining global business. Expect a candid discussion about scaling culture, building a community-led brand, navigating pressure, making difficult decisions at speed and why some companies manage to stay human even as they become huge.

Zumba Taster

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

Building the Next Era of Women's Sport: Alexis Ohanian and a Special Guest

Truman Brewery · SXSW London Stage

Women s sport isn t a future opportunity. It s a present reality and the infrastructure is finally catching up. In this conversation, Alexis Ohanian, founder of Seven Seven Six and ATHLOS, sits down with one of the world s most exciting athletes to talk about what ATHLOS is, why it exists, and why this moment matters. ATHLOS was built on a simple but radical premise: that women s track and field deserves a stage, a story, and an economic model worthy of the talent on the track. No outdated formats, no afterthought production just the fastest women in the world, competing for the biggest prize purse in the sport, on a night built entirely around them. They ll talk about why the traditional model of women s sport has underdelivered for so long, what it takes to rebuild from the ground up, and how a new generation of athletes and fans is reshaping what athletics looks, feels, and sounds like. Expect candid reflections on the state of the sport, a look at where ATHLOS is headed next, and a few surprises along the way. This isn t a conversation about potential. The question now is who gets to shape what comes next and what it means for women s sport, for athletics, and for the culture around it.

Fusion Energy: Closer Than You Think

Protein Studios · Stage 2

Fusion promises to be a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world s future energy supply. But isn t that a promise we ve heard before? In this session, Jenny Cane and Nick Sykes explore the world of fusion energy, revealing the rapid progress that s been made recently, and the crucial role that the UK and Germany are set to play in transforming the world s energy system.

AMAZE. AMAZE. AMAZE: Animating Project Hail Mary’s Rocky

Devonshire Square · UK House (Sir Devonshire Square Hotel)

How do you give a soul to a faceless alien? How do you convey deep intelligence, humor, and heartbreak using only five arms and a metallic carapace? How do you make an audience cry for a creature that looks like a giant spider-crab made of stone? Join Arslan Elver, Senior Animation Supervisor at Framestore, as he breaks down the creative journey of bringing Rocky to life. This session dives deep into the challenges of discovering a unique physical language for an alien with no eyes, no face, and no human expressions.

The Factory Leaves Earth

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

Manufacturing has always chased cheaper inputs. Textiles followed labor, aluminium followed electricity, and now advanced materials are following vacuum and microgravity into orbit. This conversation brings together the investors defining the space-industrial economy, the founders building its first factories, and the industry leaders whose products depend on materials that are fundamentally constrained by what s possible on Earth. We ll discuss what the orbital manufacturing value chain looks like today, where the investment thesis is headed, and how industries from energy to AI will be reshaped when their most critical materials are made off-planet.

Venture Philanthropy: Extending reach beyond a charitable gift

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

Venture philanthropy promises more than a check: it offers strategy, accountability, and long-term partnership. Moderated by the Max Stenbeck Charitable Foundation, this panel unites NYU s Venture Equity Program, which equips founders with the skills and networks to raise capital, and Challenging Heights, a leader in child trafficking prevention and rehabilitation in Ghana that rebuilds young survivors through education and vocational training, to examine how this same invest-and-empower philosophy is reshaping the future of social impact funding.

The Authoritarian Creep: How Far Right Rhetoric Impacts Culture

Truman Brewery · SXSW London Stage

The rise of authoritarianism across Europe and the US is something we should all be concerned about. Language shapes culture, and when inhumane language becomes normal, so does inhumane treatment. As political debate grows increasingly hostile toward migrants and refugees, women, and trans and non‑binary people, the consequences are real, and people feel them every day. Hard‑won rights are being stripped back from freedom of expression to human rights protections and reproductive autonomy. At the same time, the arms trade is booming, fuelling violence and conflict that shape daily life for millions. This panel will discuss how far we ve descended while offering glimmers of hope, showing where sparks of resistance are already lighting the way. We ll explore how ordinary people, organising together, can pull us off this dangerous path and rebuild a society grounded in dignity, respect and compassion.

CMS

Truman Brewery · T1 - SXSW London Expo and Platinum Lounge

The Legal Lounge Running into a legal question you don t want to overthink? This legal drop-in clinic is a relaxed space to stop by, ask a question and get a practical steer. Expect short, informal conversations focused on clarity, risks to watch for, and sensible next steps without jargon or technical deep dives.

The Legal Lounge

Truman Brewery · T1 - SXSW London Expo and Platinum Lounge

Zumba + Lift Workout

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House, Class

In Conversation with Mohammed El-Kurd

Protein Studios · Stage 1

Innovation in the Digital Art World

Protein Studios · Stage 2

A new generation of women is reshaping the art world not just creatively, but commercially and culturally. From curating major institutions to building platforms, investing in artists, and rewriting the rules of visibility, female leaders are redefining what it means to succeed in the creative industries.

Chasing the Zeitgeist: Three Top 'Female Futurists' Report on Industry Trends and The Increasing Power and Cultural Need for Storytelling

Juju's Bar & Stage · Jujus Stage

Predicting tomorrow is a daily requirement for industry success and survival. Hear from Nell Daly, (Co-Founder of Revenge Capital), Frances Hedges (Deputy Editor of Harper s Bazarre) and Samantha Conti (London Bureau Chief of WWD) all three women are at the forefront of engineering consumer culture: a venture capitalist who finances it, an editor who curates it, and a journalist who covers it. Uniting early-stage deal flow, lifestyle curation, and trade intelligence, this panel discusses the future of consumer behavior. They analyze what s now disrupting legacy markets, why backing outliers is a strategy, and how to spot cultural micro-signals before they hit the mainstream runway.

Why the Next Evolution Begins with How We See

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

The question is no longer how smart AI gets but how humans evolve alongside it. Roman Axelrod, founder of XPANCEO, leads a deep-tech company developing smart contact lenses that integrate XR projection, biosensing, and secure identity into an ultimate form factor for AI-powered XR computing. His thesis: the next stage of human evolution will be interface driven. This talk explores how perception itself may become the next operating layer for intelligence. Through a live helmet-linked demonstration, Roman will draw on visual project in real-time to reveal how the lens interface operates. Through applications spanning space missions, to industrial operations, to high-speed racing, he will uncover how a new era of interface-driven devices seeks to extend, rather than replace, human capabilities. If AI changes the world, interfaces change us. Join Roman to learn how the next evolution may begin with how we see.

When Ice Cream Takes a Stand

Truman Brewery · SXSW London Stage

What happens when a brand decides to speak up? Ben Cohen, Co-founder of Ben Jerry s, explores the intersection of business, activism, and social responsibility. In this conversation, Cohen shares why companies can t stay neutral in today s world and how values-driven leadership can influence politics, culture, and the next generation of entrepreneurs.ii

How We Need to Change Organisational Change in the AI Era

Protein Studios · Stage 1

As AI reshapes the workplace at unprecedented speed, organisations must rethink not only how they adopt technology, but how they approach change itself. In this session, MIT s Andrew McAfee explores the leadership, culture, and organisational shifts required to thrive in the AI era and why traditional models of transformation may no longer be enough.

The Rise of Creative & Cultural AI Models

Protein Studios · Stage 2

Join Caroline Pegram and Kartini Ludwig as they chart the evolving fusion of music and machines, from the early days of algorithmic composition to today s rise of generative sound factories. This session offers a clear foundation on how AI models are steering creative approaches, authorship, and performance and looks at the rise and possible uses of nation-led creative cultural foundation models.

Autonomous Rides Go Global

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 1

Autonomous vehicles are already operating in multiple U.S. cities. Now, London is stepping into the spotlight. British AI company Wayve is soon set to trial autonomous rides in the UK capital on Uber. Join Kaity Fischer, Wayve s VP Commercial Operations, and The Economist s Alex Hern to learn about the company s unique approach to autonomous driving and how years of testing in London s complex streets have shaped the path to safely deploying the technology at scale.

Step into Happy Hour

Truman Brewery · Dray Walk Gallery - Zumba House

Who Gets to Touch the Stars: Inclusion, Innovation & the Future of Human Exploration

Truman Brewery · Truman Stage 2

Frontier technologies are redefining the boundaries of human potential, but only if they are designed for all humans. In this fireside chat, Sandhya Sabapathy and Sheila Xu explore what it means to build inclusive futures in space, science, and society. Sheila, the first deaf Asian female pilot and a pioneering voice in accessible space exploration, brings insights from NASA, AstroAccess, and global research. Sandhya connects these advances to broader questions of systems design, justice, and climate resilience. Together, they examine how accessibility innovations in extreme environments become blueprints for a more equitable and imaginative technological future on Earth and beyond.

Resilience Rising: Building the Future Economy

Protein Studios · Stage 1

Every economic transformation in history the industrial revolution, the digital revolution created new industries, new jobs, new power structures and new ways of living that nobody fully predicted at the start. Now we are entering the next transition: adapting to a changing climate. This is already reorganising capital, power, infrastructure and everyday life. The question this panel raises is whether everyone recognises their role in shaping the new resilience economy - and if they don t, what will it take to ignite them?

Human Connection: A System of Action for Modern Work

Protein Studios · Stage 2

As Artificial Intelligence reshapes the nature of work, society stands on the brink of a cultural transformation as profound as the industrial revolution. What if the five-day workweek established a century ago no longer defines productivity? This session explores how the rise of digital agents and intelligent systems could usher in a shorter workweek, freeing humans to focus on creativity, empathy, and connection. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan will share a vision for how technology can elevate not replace human value. The conversation will examine how AI can take over repetitive, backend tasks, enabling people to spend more time on meaningful collaboration and innovation. By reframing AI as a partner in human progress, this discussion invites business leaders, technologists, and creatives alike to imagine a future where efficiency and humanity coexist.

The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) Happy Hour

Fora - The Black & White Building · Rooftop

This happy hour is hosted by The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN). Come join for rooftop drinks and meet their community. Please note, all meet-ups are first come first served - entry closes once capacity is full. Arrive early as spaces are limited. TERN supports refugees to build sustainable careers through entrepreneurship, helping people transform their skills and ideas into successful businesses. By providing training, mentorship and access to networks, TERN empowers displaced talent while championing inclusion, economic opportunity and innovation across the UK s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Maddie's Secret

Rich Mix · Screen 1

Director: John Early Cast: John Early, Kate Berlant, Kristen Johnston, Vanessa Bayer, and Chris Bauer. Comedian John Early s first film is a tragicomedy about a foodfluencer struggling with bulimia. Known for his signature offbeat delivery, comedian and actor John Early s directorial debut delivers as much snark as it does heart. He stars as the food influencer Maddie, struggling to balance her aspirations for a career surrounded by food with a years-long eating disorder she s kept secret from all those closes to her. Perhaps hardest of all, Maddie s Secret handles the horror of bulimia with startling clarity, bringing to light the shame, control and self-destruction that underpin binge-eating and purging. It s a powerful piece of work, risky but deeply rewarding. (ANNA BOGUTSKAYA)

Pete Tong - Monday (Festival & Platinum Pass Only)

Brick Lane Yard · Networking Space (Delegates only)

Please note, this is only open to festival platinum pass holders, not music wristbands. For generations of electronic music fans around the world, he s been the definitive voice of the scene for decades. But don t ever think of Pete Tong as part of the establishment. In fact, throughout his varied and astonishing career, he s been a catalyst, a genuine agent for change. And it s all based around a simple yet relentless personal mission: to find great music and talent, and to share it with as many people as possible. Take the Ibiza Classics project, the globally touring, live orchestral extravaganza that s seen Tong and collaborators Jules Buckley taking electronic music to another dimension. Initially conceived as a one-off for the Proms classical music festival in 2015, translating some of the most loved dance music anthems for an orchestra to celebrate 20 years of Radio One in Ibiza, the way that Classics caught the imagination shocked even Pete: I went to Manchester to go on breakfast TV to launch it. And by the time I came back on the train to London, we d sold 18,000 tickets. The original core of the idea was to reach those ravers for whom going out to clubs all night was no longer a realistic option. Life catches up, says Pete. But it doesn t mean you fall out of love with the music. Those songs; Promised Land , or Your Love , Cafe Del Mar : to some people they re just as important as the Beatles or the Rolling Stones. If you were there on the dance floor at, say, Space in Ibiza, they re in your soul for the rest of your life. And through dozens of genuinely live orchestral shows (ranging from The Hollywood Bowl to London s O2 to, inevitably, Ibiza) and three albums ( Classic House , Ibiza Classics and Chilled Classics ) the project has kept pushing the limits, bringing in contemporary collaborators like Tale Of Us, ARTBAT, K lsch and Ti sto to remix seminal tracks and exploring the full theatrical potential of instrumentals like Age Of Love and even the work of Hans Zimmer. He says it also fulfills a childhood dream: I always wanted to be part of a band. Growing up in Kent, young Pete tried learning piano and gave up, tried guitar and gave up; eventually I took up drums and used to play in a band doing Deep Purple covers. That was until, at 14, he saw his first DJ at a school party - and life changed forever. He became an obsessive listener to radio DJs like Emperor Rosko and specialist shows from Robbie Vincent and Greg Edwards: a door to a secret world. After a stint as a mobile DJ playing weddings and school parties, and a residency at a local pub, Pete and a friend decided to start their own club night. An encounter with Nicky Holloway led to gigs in London, where by 1987 the founding fathers of the UK dance scene were coming together. Danny Rampling was Nicky s best friend. I met Paul Oakenfold, who ran a club in Streatham, and Carl Cox, who did his soundsystem, and started doing parties with the Boy s Own crowd: Andy Weatherall, Gary Haisman and Terry Farley. As a DJ, Pete was playing rare groove and soul, mixed up with some early hip hop and electro, but when those first house records arrived, it was like year zero, like everything before had ceased to exist. After a stint as a journalist and presenter across various radio stations, Pete was hosting Saturday nights on London s Capital Radio in 1991 when Radio 1 s Jeff Young quit his show - and was the obvious candidate to take over. He arrived at the station at a time of monumental change. Newly appointed controller Matthew Bannister and his deputy Andy Parfitt were seeking to bring the station up to date. The target market was to be youth, and the pair realised they might have the perfect advisor already on hand. I went from no one talking to me to feeling like I could have a real influence there, says Pete. Not only was he in the right place to help create the station s new specialist output, it was also the right time. Dance music was exploding,` says Pete. Cream and Ministry of Sound were starting, there was so much great music coming out - and I was the only one playing this music to the nation s youth. Today, the Pete Tong and Essential Mix shows he devised in those meetings are still the flagship of underground dance music on the station, and new show, The Month In Dance , a vital anthology on BBC Sounds. Tong himself remains a sounding board for the station s management and an occasional mentor to a new generation of presenters. Outside of the radio studio, the focus for Pete as a DJ now is moving away from the grind of weekly touring and towards being part of events where he can really express himself musically - like his residency at Ibiza s Blu Marlin, his arena at Creamfields festival where he can curate not just the line-up but the experience, and gigs like joining Tale Of Us, Marco Carola or Bedouin at their nights in Ibiza, where without the pressure of being the headliner he can concentrate on allying his own style to the vibe of the night. DJing as a hobby, rather than a career, means more time for his family - and it also makes the experience more joyful and collaborative. More like his music production, in fact, something he has dipped in and out of over the years, including a fertile period with Paul Rogers, a recent team-up with Alex Kennon for Apache on Crosstown Rebels and most notably John Monkman ( he s an amazing analogue virtuoso, I m more like the arranger and rhythm guy ) for a consistent series of releases including Ecstasis [Ellum]. A 2021 live-streamed lockdown performance saw a flat-capped Tong revelling in the possibilities offered by the set-up at Metropolis Studios and Monkman s inspiration. Pete reckons he still finds so much joy in DJing and music production because he s always had a day job . As an A R, first at London Records (where he launched FFRR), he signed and released some of the acts and records that changed the course of music in the UK, from Lil Louis French Kiss ; to hip hop pioneers Run DMC and Salt n Pepa; one of the first post rave superstars duos in Orbital and the breakthrough of drum n bass in Goldie and LTJ Bukem. A number one record with Shakespeare s Sister saw him working with legends like Dave Stewart and George Harrison, and breaking All Saints led to a soundtrack collaboration with Dany Boyle for The Beach with composer William Orbit. As music supervisor for films including Human Traffic , 24 Hour Party People , and It s All Gone Pete Tong , he s also soundtracked the movies that have most successfully documented the scene. Pete was also instrumental in establishing the Electronic Music Department at the WME Agency during a seven year stint living in LA and focusing on establishing that business, and he remains a client and consultant partner. But, he says, ultimately I was missing being more hands-on. I still felt I had a lot to contribute in that department Pete eagerly accepted the opportunity to join the ThreeSixZero group (management company of Calvin Harris, Willow Jaden Smith among others) in 2019 as President of their new label ThreeSixZero Recordings and plunge back into the world of A R. Meanwhile, with The International Music Summit, held in Ibiza since 2007, Pete and his fellow founders assemble annually some of the most insightful thought leaders from within and without the industry - from Brian Eno to shesaid.so - to help the scene navigate crises and opportunities from the EDM boom to Web3 to mental health, diversity and environmental sustainability. 2022 s event was also the launchpad for one of Pete s biggest projects yet, and one clearly important to a figure starting to become ever more aware of his legacy. The Pete Tong DJ Academy, an online video training course featuring peers like Carl Cox, aims to safeguard the craft of DJing in a scene dominated by producers-cum-DJs, pass on knowledge accumulated over decades, and open up pathways for new young talent. The only question that remains, especially after a Music Industry Trust Award in 2021 that saw him join a pantheon including figures like Beatles Producer Sir George Martin, is whether this restless soul is likely to slow down soon. It was unbelievable, amazing, he says of that night. But really I like the fact that it celebrated our industry, that it was someone like me that got it as much as me that got it, someone who s spent their life in electronic music. I won t be hanging up my slippers anytime soon. In other words: he continues.

Only Rebels Win

Rich Mix · Screen 2

Director: Danielle Arbid Cast: Hiam Abbass, Mahamat Amine Benrachid, Charbel Kamel, Shaden Fakih. A May-December romance unravels amidst a collision of desire and displacement in Beirut When 60-year-old Suzanne (Hiam Abass) intervenes in a racist attack against Osmane (Amine Benrachid), she feels an instant connection to the mysterious man half her age. The violence of their first meeting comes to permeate the relationship that follows, with the love between the two marked by harsh judgment of their age gap, as well as the interfaith and interracial nature of their pairing. Unable to film in Lebanon amongst the escalating war, Danielle Arbid beautifully recreates the landscape of her home city of Beirut: one constantly under attack, but still able to foster and harbour a tender love story. (ISRA AL KASSI)

Shorts: Human Nature

Rich Mix · Screen 3

An exploration of human behaviour through the eyes of animals, landscapes, and our uneasy relationship with the natural world. The most complex creatures within the animal kingdom are examined through a new lens in HUMAN / NATURE, a programme dedicated to exploring human behaviour in all forms. This collection of anthropomorphic fables delve into our hidden desires, inner anxieties and emphasises our connection with the natural world. In the wild, children and friends go missing, never to be found, a maned wolf is displaced and searches for a home. Humans living near the sea face an environmental crisis as microplastics invade their ecosystem. Questions about gender shake the bedrock of an elderly Malaysian-Tamil couple and a young woman s obsession grows. Total Running Time: 95 min Content Warning: Discussions of death, alcohol use, strong language, brief nudity, vomiting, brief gore

Platinum Party & Art Unveil

Truman Brewery

Andaz Hotel Liverpool Street; Presents the Platinum Art unveil party at G1A (ground floor entrance to the art exhibition at Truman Brewery) The Rake bar mixologists will be providing some of their signature cocktails for the evening. If you are thirsty for more you can always join them afterwards in the bar... Andaz London Liverpool Street is a five-star lifestyle hotel where the energy of East London meets the heritage of the City. Set beside Liverpool Street Station and moments from Shoreditch, the hotel brings together bold design, local culture, spacious rooms and suites, distinctive restaurants and bars, and characterful event spaces in one of London s most connected neighborhoods. From creative stays to social dining and standout gatherings, Andaz London invites you to experience the city with curiosity, individuality and a strong sense of place Indulge in the Extravagant Lifestyle of the modern Rake Bar Inspired by the infamous story of Tom Rakewell, Rake is a restaurant that embodies the essence of luxury, mystery, and excess. Step into our world and experience the opulence of a bygone era, brought to life in a contemporary setting. From our exquisite menu to our sophisticated ambiance, every detail is designed to transport you to a time of indulgence and pleasure. Join us on a journey of exquisite cocktails and culinary delights and discover the true meaning of a modern Rake.

Virginia Woolf's Night & Day

Barbican Centre · Cinema 1

Director: Tina Gharavi Cast: Haley Bennett, Jack Whitehall, Jennifer Saunders, Timothy Spall, Lily Allen Love and astronomy don t mix in this un-romantic comedy based on Virginia Woolf s novel Aspiring astronomer Katharine Hilbery (Haley Bennett) is passionate about two things and two things only: the stars and Cambridge University. While her controlling father (Timothy Spall) tries to push her away from learning and into marriage with family friend William (Jack Whitehall), the headstrong young woman stands up to expectations forced on her by getting involved in the suffragette movement, spearheaded by the sprightly, straight-talking Mary (Lily Allen). Based on Virginia Woolf s lesser-known novel, Night Day is a refreshing take on the romantic comedy, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century London and the crumbling Edwardian patriarchal attitudes. With Haley Bennett s sparkling performance at the heart of the film, BAFTA-nominated director Tina Gharavi turns writer Justine Waddell s script into a sparkling, feminist unromantic comedy. (ANNA BOGUTSKAYA)

Shorts: Ghosts, Ghouls and Glitches

Rich Mix · Screen 2

An eclectic collection of provocative and unhinged shorts that challenge, shock, and subvert expectations. Slip into the alluring absurdity and unhinged energy of this year s GHOSTS, GHOULS and GLITCHES. Featuring alternative storytelling from around the world, spanning the darkest of comedies, edge-of-your-seat thrillers, frenzied animations and erotica so twisted you ll want to bleach your eyeballs. A healthy dose of ghosts, ghouls and trauma is guaranteed. Join the cult - we promise you ll leave alive, shaken and stirred. Total Running Time : 87 min Content Warnings: Sudden loud noises, flashing images, graphic sex, nudity, infant death, cartoonish gore, blood, injury detail, strong language, violence, depictions of bullying

Feast or Famine

Rich Mix · Screen 1

Directors: Adrian Choa, Michael Boccalini Cast: Marco Pierre White, Joshua Owen, Usman Haider, Amar Takhar East London s buzzy Angelina restaurant chases their first Michelin star in this doc narrated by legendary chef Marco Pierre White There is a certain air of mystery around the famed Michelin stars sparsely given to the world s best restaurants and chefs. Few people can explain the system as well as legendary chef Marco Pierre White, the first Brit to earn three of them and the first to famously give them all back. The fascinating Feast or Famine lifts the heavy curtain of secrecy that surrounds high-end dining, with White demystifying the Michelin myth while the highly-regarded team behind East London s buzzy Angelina restaurant chases their first ever coveted star. Watch it, and make your reservation. (RAFA SALES ROSS)

Barrio Triste

Rich Mix · Screen 3

Director: Stillz Cast: Brahian Acevedo, Juan Pablo Baena, Samuel Andr s Celis Visionary music director Stillz makes his debut in this violent, raw and hunting 90s-set found footage. Sitting somewhere between documentary, fiction and nightmare, Barrio Triste is the unclassifiable film debut of visionary music director Stillz (who s made videos for Bad Bunny, Rosal a, and Omar Apollo). Set in the outskirts of Medell n, Colombia, in the 90s, the premise is deceptively simple: a camera falls into the hands of a group of lawless young men, who use it to document the everyday violence, criminality, and lovelessness they have become used to. Violent, raw, and sad, it s a film of bold creative swings and extreme emotionality. Stillz is clearly a singular, original voice, and it shows in every frame of Barrio Triste. (ANNA BOGUTSKAYA)