Taking place during 24-30 March with over 120 events, the strictly non-partisan festival offers up an eclectic week of talks, workshops, theatre, comedy, music, exhibitions, film and tours and in-person and live events.
Imagine! Belfast Festival of Ideas and Politics
Christopher Ward: Model Strangers
In the summer of 2023 Christopher Ward had an idea. It was simple: he would approach strangers on…
Cory Doctorow: Disenshittifying Big Tech
The New York Times best-selling author, journalist and activist in conversation with Alan Meban.
Cabaret for Change: Addressing the Political through the Poetical
A provocative yet convivial gathering to address ‘the political’ by participating in ‘the poetical’.
Belfast Food As A System
Join Belfast Sustainable Food Partnership for this two hour workshop exploring how to make better connections between the…
Cage Eleven: Prison Writings from Long Kesh
Join former president of Sinn Féin and TD for Louth, Gerry Adams, as he talks about his new…
Brave Belfast Cailíní: Being A Girl’s Girl Through Art
Brave Belfast Cailíní is a youth-led campaign that empowers young women and girls to support one another.
Our Bodies, Our Rights, Our Futures
Join the Open University, Alliance for Choice, The Rainbow Project and Common Youth for an inspiring session where…
Knitting Horn Covers for a Muskox & The Blind Humans and The Elephant
Two stunning new projects from Belfast-based Japanese artist Shiro Masuyama.
We Will Remain & Dancing Palestine
A double feature of short films from Palestine.
The Importance of Ethical and Shared Remembering
A seminar reflecting on the principles and practice of ethical and shared remembering.
Power Chords: The Synergy between Music and Politics
A panel of local politicians reveal the music that has influenced their lives.
James Connolly Walking Tour
A tour by Dr. Conor McCabe, visiting some of the key places associated with James Connolly during his…
Something Great! Finding Myself in the Belfast Circus Part 2
Jennifer Dempsey’s coming of age story about losing your way then finding it in the most unlikely of…
Tim Arnold: The Road to Super Connected
A journey through singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and activist Tim Arnold’s life. Hosted by Stephen Coates and presented by Imagine!…
The Enthusiasts Choir: Reverberation
‘Reverberation’ is a performance of songs, stories and poetry that explores the theme of conflict both internal and…
The Small Democracy of Rathlin Island
A workshop looking at how Rathlin islanders are developing community-led policymaking.
Matt Forde: A Fireside Chat with William Crawley
Join for a performance and interview with this critically acclaimed stand-up, impressionist, writer and podcaster.
Brighid ‘Biddy’ McLaughlin: Tales of a Patchwork Life
Join for a talk by Brighid ‘Biddy’ McLaughlin, the acclaimed journalist and storyteller, about her life and new…
Women’s Leadership and Privilege: Who Gets a Seat at the Table?
A panel exploring the intersection of gender, power, and privilege when it comes to leadership positions.
Restorative Storytelling for Change: Amplifying Voices, Inspiring Change
Join some of the most marginalised communities in Belfast sharing their stories and experiences, speaking truth to power.
Jo Caulfield: The Funny Thing About Death
Join Jo Caulfield as she talks about her laugh-out-loud memoir The Funny Thing About Death.
David Baddiel: in conversation with William Crawley
Join for an entertaining event with David Baddiel in conversation with the BBC’s William Crawley.
Don’t Forget to Remember
In this stunning Irish documentary, an artist navigates his mother’s life and memories as they are being eroded…
Jo Caulfield: Here Comes Trouble
‘Here Comes Trouble’ is full of razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners, as Jo gets her claws into everything…
Making NI a Living Wage Region
Hear from a range of local Living Wage Employers about why the Living Wage is good for workers,…
The Sound of Marching, Charging Feet: Music, Agitation and Civil Rights
Stuart Bailie, author of ‘Trouble Songs: Music and Conflict in Northern Ireland’, looks back to the ferment of…
John MacNeice and The Lundy Leash
A history talk and poetry reading around the life and times of Louis MacNeice’s father, a Protestant clergyman…
The Revolutionary Act of Dreaming
How might sharing dreams in community help us explore the relationship between humanity, technology and the shifting meaning…
Politics of the Imagination
An evening of genre-defying, humorous and hard-hitting music.
Talking Integration: Belfast Parents’ Views on Education
Hear from key stakeholders and discuss how the demand for Integrated Education can be met.
What Kind of World is Possible?
A screening of the documentary ‘Finding the Money’ followed by a facilitated conversation with economist Tony Weekes.
The Irish Boundary Commission: “The Root of All Evil”
Join for a talk by Dr Cormac Moore marking the anniversary of the shelving of the Irish Boundary…
The Dan Eggs Dialogue
Express Yourself Social Café flings open its doors for an afternoon of ideas and autobiographical musings by one…
Whose Integration is it Anyway?
A panel of stakeholders involved with integrated education will discuss matters arising from new research being conducted at…
Education And Hope In A World On Fire
If we are in a planetary crisis (as all scientific evidence suggests), why do we not witness academia…
(de)fragment: Gallery Tour & Conversation
Artists Meadhbh McIlgorm and Lian Bell with an alternative gallery tour & conversation delving into the exhibition’s themes…
