A star-studded line-up of activists, leaders, artists and writers join lineup for 36th festival of art and ideas. The lineup includes: Yulia Navalnaya, Richard E. Grant, Nick Clegg, Sarah Lucas, Led By Donkeys, Ruth Jones, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Cherie Blair, Travis Alabanza, Roxane Gay, Edmund de Waal, Mark Steel, Lady Hale and Nigel Slater. For its 36th edition, Charleston Festival brings together bold voices and brilliant minds through curated talks, performances and new commissions to share stories, spark ideas and address the most pressing cultural and societal questions of our times. Running from 14 to 26 May, this year’s packed programme will inspire dialogue and debate across literature, art, design, history, music and politics – from an interview with Russian activist Yulia Navalnaya to a multi-artform centenary celebration of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. More than 150 of the world’s most exciting writers, thinkers, artists and performers will come together in the idyllic Sussex South Downs grounds of Charleston, former home to artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and the iconic meeting place of the Bloomsbury Group, whose progressive spirit inspires the festival to this day. Charleston as a place has a rich history of resistance, a subject that’s at the heart of this year’s festival programme – from the quiet, intimate moments of resistance within our homes to the urgent movements that span the globe. The festival also explores what it means to be human in the age of AI, questioning the impact of technology on our work, politics, relationships and creativity. Melissa Perkins, Head of Programme and Events, said: “Charleston Festival is about exploring new ways of thinking and living, bringing together conversations across different disciplines and art forms. We are extremely proud to unveil the 2025 programme, which brings together the most exciting international writers, artists and thinkers working today. We hope that everyone who comes to the festival is inspired to see the world differently by the time they leave.” Charleston Festival runs from 14 to 26 May 2025 at Charleston in Firle, East Sussex. Shuttle buses run from Lewes station to the festival site.