Event with Dame Jenny Harries announced for Festival of Ideas

Professor Dame Jenny Harries DBE DL, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England and Chancellor of the University of Chester, will be in conversation with Dr Kirstie Simpson, Associate Professor and Acting Executive Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise, on Saturday, July 4. She will offer candid insights into resilience, decision-making, and purpose across an extraordinary career.

Dame Jenny joins speakers including some of the UK’s leading broadcasters at the award-winning, four-day annual festival, returning in the summer for the third time after proving a success with thousands of visitors enjoying its near-to-100 events held each year since its launch.

Organisers are also reminding individuals, organisations and communities that they have until March 4 to submit their event ideas through the festival website.

Created by the University of Chester in collaboration with partners, the festival offers a line-up of free and accessible public events on a wide range of themes, for all ages and interests, at venues across the city. The Cheshire calendar highlight celebrates imagination, inspiration, learning and culture, including talks, exhibitions, performances, and hands-on workshops, and takes place from Thursday July 2 to Sunday July 5.

Among the names taking to the festival stage in 2026 are journalist, broadcaster, author and campaigner, Mariella Frostrup, and public historian, author, and broadcaster Greg Jenner, best known for working on the award-winning BBC TV series, Horrible Histories as its historical consultant, and for creating and hosting the BBC podcast, You're Dead To Me.

Meanwhile, a range of research and expertise will be presented by University of Chester staff including Chantal Bradburn who will Follow Chester’s Buildings Through Time and Dr James Holt, Associate Professor of Religious Education, who will discuss On Holy Ground: Experiencing Life in Relationships. Authors from the University of Chester Press will also feature and the Royal Institution will lead a trio of thrilling science shows.  

The call-out to the community extends to both primary and secondary schools across the North West, North Wales and beyond, to host events, or share projects or pupils’ work around the theme of ‘Our Future in Our Hands’.

Katherine Wilson, Director of Chester Festival of Ideas and Professor of Later Medieval European History at the University of Chester, said: “We’re delighted to announce the latest event for this year’s festival with Dame Jenny Harries as part of another varied programme aiming to entertain, inform and inspire.

“Everyone is warmly invited to be part of the festival, whether hosting, supporting or attending events and activities. If you have an idea for an event, there’s just under a month to put it forward - so still time, but please make sure you don’t miss out.

“We’re excited to again be working with partners and both individuals and groups in our communities to develop proposals, and to announce more events in the coming months.”

A full programme for the festival and ticket booking for events will open in May 2026. For further information on the festival, and to join the mailing list for updates, please visit: https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/.

To submit event ideas, go to: https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/be-part-of-the-festival/ and for more detail on the event with Dame Jenny at Chester Town Hall - the festival hub, see: https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/event/dame-jenny-harries-in-conversation/

Images - from top:

• Dame Jenny Harries.
• A festival lecture.
• Mariella Frostrup.
• Greg Jenner.
• Stepping into festival events at the town hall.
• The festival has something for all ages and interests.