Autumn Festivals unveil a season of inviting events

Students and staff are participating in three festivals spotlighting how the arts, humanities and social sciences inspire, enrich and help us understand our everyday lives.

Experts from Edinburgh are joining an inviting line-up of events for learning and discovery as part of the UK-wide Economic and Social Research Council’s Festival of Social Science from 17 October to 7 November.

The New College Festival of Books and Belief, on 6 and 7 November, will feature acclaimed authors and speakers exploring the fascinating relationship between literature and belief.

Elsewhere the Being Human Festival from 6 to 15 November is showcasing an exhibition and workshop connecting art, maps and climate data.  

Spotlighting research

The University is presenting four events as part of the Festival of Social Science. 

Highlights include an interactive evening exploring the psychology behind our relationships with cats and dogs, presented by Dr Roxanne Hawkins of Clinical Psychology and Professor Steve Loughnan of Psychology.

The event showcases fascinating research, interactive activities and shared stories to reveal a deeper understanding of the important role pets play in our lives.

Dr Annie Holtz, Professor Mitsuhiko Ota and Professor Kenny Smith, a team of experimental linguists, are hosting an immersive workshop to unlock some of the fascinating questions around how people learn and use language. 

Research focus 

Dr Thomas Wadsworth of the School of Health in Social Science will join a group of experts exploring how poverty, welfare insecurity, the cost-of-living crisis and financial hardship impact suicide prevention, and what this means for policy and practice.

The exhibition Mapping the Anthropocene: hopeful futures blends art with climate change data to  to reflect on how economics, the environment, data and technology intertwine. Curated by Dr Inge Panneels of Edinburgh College of Art,  the exhibition features artwork by artists Lise Autogena and Joshua Portway.

The event – which also offers a panel discussion and guided tour –  is also featuring in the Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival which supports public engagement across the humanities.

The Books and Belief Festival, hosted by the School of Divinity, is set to explore the stories that shape the things we believe in.  

Now in its sixth year, the festival features a two-day, 15-event programme filled with celebrated writers, scholars, theologians and thinkers from across the UK and beyond.

Luke Kennard, who has had his recent novel Black Bag shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2026, will  speak about the novel and his 2025 poetry collection The Book of Jonah. He will be joined on stage by poet Samuel Tongue. 

In a free pre-festival event on 22 October guests can enjoy a shared reading session discussing the poetry collection with Katie Harling-Lee of the School of Divinity.

Acclaimed authors

Celebrated author Francesca Stavrakopoulou, whose book God: An Anatomy has been serialised on BBC Radio 4, discusses her work with Helen Bond, School of Divinity scholar, presenter, and co-host of the Biblical Time Machine podcast.

Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah will share insights into the book Breaking Binaries: A Progressive Rabbi Engages with Contemporary Issues, which draws on decades of interfaith dialogue and LGBT+ campaigning, in an event chaired by scholar Hannah Holtschneider.

Celebrating stories

Award-winning poet and essayist Alycia Pirmohamed returns to the festival to celebrate Shorelines, a Nan Shepherd Prize-winning debut work of non-fiction. She will be joined by fellow author and nature writer David Farrier of the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures for a focus on landscape, belonging, migration and memory. 

Leading AI ethicist Dr Eleanor Drage will address some of the crucial questions tackled in her new book What If We Got AI Right? in a conversation with Marion Thain, Director of the Edinburgh Futures Institute. 

Other highlights from across the programme include a writing workshop with poet and Edinburgh scholar Jane McKie, while acclaimed singer-songwriter Karine Polwart discusses her book Windblown with Roxani Krystalli. Karine will perform a couple of songs from Windblown with Dave Milligan.    

Weekend celebrations         

Among the Saturday sessions, Margaret Somerville of the Iona Community leads a workshop focusing on spiritual practice through writing, while celebrated poet Malcolm Guite is set to enchant the audience with a focus on Galahad and the Grail, the first book from his four-volume series Merlin’s Isle: An Arthuriad. 

Elsewhere dancer and writer Nada Shawa will share memoir, poetry and fresh insights from her debut poetry collection, Indigenous Soul: Gaza and Me.

Medical professionals and writers Mhairi Collie and Gavin Francis will speak about the incredible resilience of our bodies and minds, and actor, playwright and scriptwriter David Ireland joins storyteller of Scotland and noted performer Donald Smith, to discuss the themes, questions and ideas that run throughout all Ireland’s work.

The 2025 festival culminates with a panel event with historian Alec Ryrie, exploring the global history of early Protestantism, as part of the celebration of 180 years of New College. 

Autumn activities

Edinburgh’s award-winning independent Golden Hare Books will also be providing signed copies of authors’ titles in a pop-up bookshop during the festival. 

Bookings for the Festival of Social Science and Being Human can be made via the Festivals’ websites, the events are free and open to the public.

For the New College Festival of Books and Belief, tickets are available from £8 via the website or Eventbrite, with a range of options for single sessions and workshops. Concessions are available for students and unwaged participants.  

[Image credit - Moments via Getty Images]