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The Festival of Politics


The Scottish Parliament’s Festival of Politics returns this August with a 2-day programme of events, taking place in Holyrood, the home of Scottish politics.

Morning sun on the Scottish Parliament
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Royal Mile

27th August 2026 - 28th August 2026
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This year’s Festival promises lively debates, thought-provoking panels and inspiring voices tackling some of the most pressing social, political and environmental issues shaping Scotland, the UK and beyond.

From AI, climate change and the manosphere to poverty, housing and free speech – events focus on some of the most pressing social, political and environmental topics of our time.

As part of this year’s line-up hear from Brenda Hale, the Rt Hon Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE, as she discusses her incredible legal career as a pioneering reformer. With her inspirational motto that ‘women are equal to everything’, Lady Hale was the first woman Law Commissioner, the first and youngest female Law Lord and the first woman appointed as President of the Supreme Court.

Poster-style image showing an elderly man in a wheelchair, the Statue of Liberty, a sheep and a robot, all against the outline of a city.

In addition, the Festival programme features leading experts from the worlds of politics, the arts, business, the media and the third sector. With events on topics tackling some of the big issues facing Scotland, the UK and the world such as the use of AI, Brexit, human trafficking, how we tackle misogyny and our use of technology.

The Scottish Parliament is wheelchair accessible, has ground level entry, lifts and disabled toilets. Nine of this year’s events this year will be British sign language translated.

To find out more about this year’s programme of events and to book tickets go to The Festival of Politics.