York’s Festival of Ideas – FREE in person & online events

York Festival of Ideas 2026 has a wide range of inspiring events to attend and engage with, both in person and online – most of them free.  A sample of the business and economics-related events in this year’s programme is outlined below.

The Festival is led by the University of York, working in partnership with more than 100 local and national organisations, and is made possible by the generosity of our supporters and donors. The full Festival programme can be explored at yorkfestivalofideas.com.

Festival Focus events:

Our Future, Our North: Building jobs and prosperity, Wednesday 10 June (in person)

Discover how the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is driving economic growth, creating new job opportunities and benefitting the pockets of everyone in the North of England. Join us for one session or stay the whole day.

Session 1: From Local Roots to Regional Wealth, 11am to 1pm

How can York and North Yorkshire become the premier region for investment and new opportunities in the UK? Our expert panel includes prominent economist Lord Jim O’Neill, Ben Pykett, author of the Demos/PwC Good Growth for Cities Index; Darren Pirie, Head of NatWest Group Accelerator and Strategic Partnerships; and Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprise, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York.

Session 2: Regional Growth: The new tech trio, 1.45pm to 3pm

Where will the next generation of high-quality jobs in York and North Yorkshire come from? Join us for a dynamic session spotlighting the ‘growth opportunity trio’ – BioTech, RailTech and CreaTech – as our speakers demonstrate how a powerful partnership between government, business and universities is driving success.

Session 3: Good Growth: From strategy to your street, 3.30pm to 5pm

How do we ensure economic success isn’t just a headline, but a reality for every York and North Yorkshire neighbourhood? Our expert panel reveals how regional collaboration – and tailoring national policies to local needs – can secure the investment we need, creating jobs and lasting opportunities for all. The session begins with a keynote address by Tom Riordan, the government’s first envoy dedicated to northern growth.

Mapping Wealth, Ownership and Place in York, Friday 12 June (in person)

From Rowntree’s historic maps of poverty to today’s ‘York model’ of community wealth, how does our city truly prosper? How can we make sure money spent in York actually stays in York? In partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, we explore how our city can nurture a grassroots movement of community-driven change. Join us for one or both sessions.

Session 1: Rowntree Revisited: 125 years on, 11am to 12.30pm

125 years after Seebohm Rowntree’s landmark study of poverty in York, a new question is coming into focus: how do we study wealth today and what might it reveal? In revisiting Rowntree’s study, our panel discusses new research into the ownership of land, housing and assets.

Session 2: The York Model: Community wealth, 1pm to 2.30pm

Could York and North Yorkshire become a national beacon for community wealth building, reshaping who owns, controls and benefits from the local economy? Join the Mayoral Community Wealth Building Commission to explore a bold vision for a fairer, more resilient economy rooted in local ownership, social enterprise and community-led action.

Don’t miss:

Installing Charge Points: From planning to operation, Saturday 6 June, 10.15am to 11.15pm (in person)

What does it actually take to deliver EV charging at scale – and why do so many projects stall? Join sustainability and decarbonisation expert David Trousdale for a fast‑paced, real‑world deep dive into the unfiltered realities of delivering EV charge point infrastructure – from the first idea on a page to chargers live on the ground. Presented in partnership with the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

Step Aboard: Rail’s journey to a responsible future, Saturday 6 June, 12 noon to 1.15pm (in person)

At this special Festival Focus event, discover how train operator LNER is leading the charge to be a truly responsible business: embracing cutting-edge technologies, supporting communities and embedding sustainability to create a better journey for people, places and planet. Step aboard and explore how rail is enabling a cleaner, greener way to travel across the UK. Presented in partnership with LNER.

You may also enjoy:

Building for Community: Ownership and land, Tuesday 2 June, 6pm to 8pm (in person)

York’s affordability crisis is pushing people and communities out of the city. YorSpace aims to challenge this by developing co-operative, community-owned models that unlock local investment, protect land from speculation and create affordable homes and buildings. Come along and find out more.

Icarus Economics: Why rich economies are struggling – and how to fix them, Wednesday 3 June, 12 noon to 1pm (online)

Economist John Rapley reveals how rich countries can grow their economies and mitigate the effects of climate change by helping poor countries to decarbonise.

Beyond the Matrix: The reality of AI risk, Monday 8 June, 8pm to 9pm (in person)

Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a Hollywood-style threat or a tool we can trust? Join experts from the University of York’s SAINTS AI Centre for Doctoral Training to explore how chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini have changed the conversation.

A Life in Retail: Past, present and future, Tuesday 9 June, 7pm to 8pm (in person)

Stuart Rose, a veteran of British retail, shares insights into his career and thoughts about the future of the UK economy.

Stay up to date with all things related to the Festival by following York Festival of Ideas on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, Twitter, YouTube, #YorkIdeas