Following a spectacular festival in Hay-On-Wye this May, HowTheLightGetsIn – the world’s largest music and philosophy festival – has just announced it is landing in the heart of London this September.

For one weekend only, the festival will see some of the world’s leading thinkers debating today’s biggest ideas, along with a unique mix of talks, music and comedy set in the spectacular grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath.

This May, HowTheLightGetsIn in Hay-on-Wye saw a footfall of over 30,000 across the weekend’s programme that included everyone from Noam Chomsky to Hot Chip.

The first speakers announced for September include: cognitive psychologist and author of The Better Angels of Our Nature Steven Pinker, author of Swimming Home and Hot Milk Deborah Levy, post-colonial theorist Homi Bhabha, activist and filmmaker Tariq Ali, philosopher and author Rebecca Goldstein, eminent mathematician and Hawking collaborator Roger Penrose amongst others.

Today also sees the first debates announced – covering the universe’s beginning, violence and progress, the nature of consciousness and the future of the post-truth world – all in keeping with the festival’s theme Tribal Truths and New Wisdom.

Said post-postmodern philosopher and founder of the Institute of Art and Ideas (the organisation behind HowTheLightGetsIn), Hilary Lawson: “We have had a fantastic response to this year’s festival in Hay-On-Wye and we are delighted to be bringing HowTheLightGetsIn to London this September. Today’s speakers and debates are just a taste of what’s to come – there’s plenty more exciting announcements on the way.”

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“Our theme for our debates and talks programme this September (Tribal Truths and New Wisdom) will examine the intellectual crisis that the Institute of Art and Ideas was founded to address – most recently described by the media as ‘post-truth’. Relativism long ago undermined the simple truths of modernism, with no plausible way back. Yet we cannot be content in a world of competing tribal perspectives and alterative truths, if only the loudest and most powerful win out. So a new way forward must be found – this is the New Wisdom we are seeking out.”

Taking place 22 – 23 September, HowTheLightGetsIn will feature over 100 events, including over 50 debates and talks and 30 bands and comedy acts.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.