Jordan Gray, Marcus Brigstocke, Jin Hao Li and Lee Peart are among the latest batch of acts added to the Latitude Festival line-up.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
Latitude is in Henham Park in Suffolk from July 24th to 27th, 2025. Buy tickets here.
