Literature, Dance, Theatre, Comedy… Your Arts line up continues to grow

TK Maxx presents The Comedy Arena

We are thrilled to welcome four of the sharpest comedic voices around, promising a line up filled with wit, satire, and brilliantly crafted storytelling. Jordan Gray returns to Latitude, showcasing her signature blend of bold social commentary and musical hilarity that demonstrates why she’s one of the UK’s fastest-rising comedy stars. A Latitude favourite, Marcus Brigstocke will deliver razor-sharp satire on politics, pop culture, and the absurdities of modern life, all with his trademark charm and intelligence. Jin Hao Li will bring a fresh perspective with effortlessly funny observations,  sharp storytelling and a unique take on identity, society, whilst Lee Peart will light up the arena with his quick wit and relatable humour, riffing on British life, personal anecdotes, and pop culture.

The Listening Post

From powerful spoken word and sharp political insight to live podcasts and literary deep-dives, The Listening Post offers a front-row seat to the stories and ideas shaping our world.

Among this year’s most anticipated talks is an exclusive look behind the scenes of the Booker Prize Foundation, as novelist, critic and judge for the 2025 Booker Prize Chris Power sits down with Gaby Wood, Chief Executive of the Booker Prize Foundation. With the 2025 longlist announcement just days away from Latitude, the pair will delve into what it takes to read like a judge, from tackling 150 books in seven months to re-reading the final contenders multiple times in pursuit of a single winner.

Bringing humour and heart in equal measure, comedian and writer Adam Buxton returns to Latitude to celebrate the release of his new memoir, I Love You, Byeee: Adventures in Rambleland. In his signature rambling style, Buxton reflects on parenthood, ageing, Bowie, and grief.  Broadcaster and critic Anna Smith brings her award-winning podcast Girls on Film to the festival for a live episode, unpacking the ways women are portrayed and represented on screen and sharing personal stories. In The Poetry Exchange: Poems as Friends, actors and poets Michael Shaeffer, Roy McFarlane, and Hannah Jane Walker invite you to reflect on the poems that have offered comfort, sparked change, or simply helped make sense of the world. In Elfonomics, comedian Elf Lyons teams up with her economist father, Dr Gerard Lyons, to teach us about art and economics – and why everyone should be an artist.

Bringing insight and candour, journalist and broadcaster John Pienaar will take the stage to untangle the biggest political stories of the moment, with his signature sharp analysis, calm authority, clarity, wit, and a few provocations along the way. Mark Kermode teams up with YouTuber and screenwriter Jack Howard for an entertaining and insightful conversation about cinema. Expect a fast-paced, genre-hopping discussion from two passionate film lovers as they debate everything from guilty pleasures to auteur theory, with plenty of laughs along the way. Art critic Zarina Muhammad, better known as The White Pube along with fellow critic Gabrielle de la Puente,  joins the bill to discuss the pair’s acclaimed book Poor Artists. The book tells the story of a young creative navigating capitalism and compromise, raising vital questions about who gets to make art and at what cost. Hayden Thorpe, the magnetic voice behind Wild Beasts, brings his signature blend of lyricism, mysticism and melody to the stage in a rare and unforgettable solo appearance.

The University of East Anglia presents a timely panel exploring the complexities of free speech in an increasingly fractured world. This session brings together cultural commentators and academics to reflect on the boundaries between open expression and community protection. Newscast, the BBC’s flagship current affairs podcast, arrives for a live edition packed with insight, humour and context. Author Irvine Welsh sits down for a live recording of The Penguin Podcast. In a wide-ranging conversation about the objects that shaped his life and career, Welsh shares personal reflections on creativity, chaos, rave culture and political rage. With lyrical power, spoken-word artist and mental health advocate Grace Willow brings an emotional and empowering performance to the stage. Her words cut through stigma and celebrate vulnerability as strength, reminding audiences that art can heal as much as it challenges.

The Independent joins the Listening Post for the first time with a live conversation set to dive deep into the cultural and political issues shaping today’s world. Full details are under wraps, but expect fearless journalism and a headline guest…

The Bookshop

The Latitude Bookshop is a vibrant hub of literary activity at the festival, offering a rich programme of talks, readings, and discussions that celebrate the power of storytelling in all its forms. Already announced, the Bookshop’s 2025 season features three major partnerships: with broadcaster and nature writer Martha Kearney, the National Poetry Centre, founded by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and  Faber.

Faber will take over the Bookshop on Sunday, celebrating their rich literary heritage with events featuring a remarkable line up of artists and music innovators sharing stories of creativity and cultural influence.

Artist and musician Cosey Fanni Tutti discusses her boundary-pushing career, from co-founding industrial pioneers Throbbing Gristle to exploring feminism and performance art, in conversation about her memoir Re-Sisters.

Producer and cultural icon Joe Boyd will reflect on his influential memoir White Bicycles, sharing vivid stories from the 1960s music scene and collaborations with legends like Bob Dylan and Muddy Waters.

Broadcaster and music enthusiast Elizabeth Alker brings her cross-genre passion to Latitude, drawing on her BBC Radio 3 and 6 Music experience to explore music’s transformative power in her memoir Everything We Do Is Music.

Grammy-winning producer Arthur Baker, a pioneer in hip-hop, electro, and dance music, will discuss his legacy and creative process behind iconic remixes for artists like Afrika Bambaataa and New Order.

The National Poetry Centre presents a vibrant and diverse line-up featuring Fawzia Muradali Kane, a Trinidadian architect and poet whose forthcoming collection Guaracara explores her Indo-Caribbean heritage and the legacy of the cane sugar industry; Desree, an award-winning spoken word artist and writer whose debut collection Altar challenges the concept of sacrifice and has been named a Poetry Book Society recommendation for 2025; Ellen McAteer, poet, songwriter, and founder of Glasgow’s “Tell It Slant” poetry bookshop, known for her debut collection My Deep and Gorgeous Thirst; Christy Ku, a London-based poet and facilitator celebrated for her work with the BBC, Sky Arts, and Barbican, and founder of BESEA Poets, a platform amplifying British East and South-East Asian voices; and Geraint Ellis, a Barbican Young Poet and former Scottish National Slam finalist whose work has been recognised by multiple prestigious awards.

In a twist of linguistic joy and absurdity, And Remember We Care… return with Danny Does the Crossword for some clue-filled charm and comic chaos. More than a puzzle session, this interactive event fuses wordplay with performance, unearthing the poetry of crosswords and the strange places they take us.

The Waterfront

This summer, our stunning Waterfront Stage will become a vibrant playground of movement and music, curated by leading UK dance organisations DanceEast, The Place and London City Ballet.

DanceEast brings a thrilling collection of performances to the stage. James Wilton Dance presents BACH Reimagined, a compelling collision of baroque music and fiercely physical choreography. Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures shares the tender duet My Feet Don’t Quite Touch the Ground, part of their Doorstep Duets series, exploring themes of connection and transition with trademark sensitivity. Seeta Patel’s Rite of Spring offers a bold reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s iconic score through the lens of classical Indian dance, bringing spiritual power and rhythmical fire to the stage. Jeanefer Jean-Charles introduces Patois, a vibrant and energetic exploration of Caribbean language and identity that celebrates heritage through movement. Stopgap Dance Company’s RO-TES is an evolving, sculptural work that blends improvisation, access, and architecture in a striking live performance.

London City Ballet returns in a triumphant revival with Soft Shore, a graceful and emotionally rich work that marks a new era for this legendary company.

The Place presents a fresh wave of boundary-pushing artistry with Ọkan: Creation, a deeply expressive journey through heritage and transformation.

Elsewhere, Almost Synchro dives headfirst into synchronised swimming with sharp humour and unexpected harmony, while The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave is a euphoric, high-energy celebration of queer identity and freedom, fusing storytelling, rave culture and pure joy. For the little ones and their grown-ups, Monski Mouse returns with her iconic Baby Disco.

The Theatre Arena

In the Theatre Arena, storytelling comes alive through breath-taking performances that challenge, inspire, and captivate.

We are proudly welcoming an electrifying line up of world-class Australian performances, presented by House of Oz – an award-winning philanthropic and production platform. This dynamic line-up showcases the creativity, energy, and innovation of Australia’s best, blending internationally renowned artists with exciting newcomers to deliver unforgettable theatre experiences ahead of their Edinburgh Fringe runs.

Leading the charge is the already announced Gravity & Other Myths with their international smash hit Ten Thousand Hours. Following sell-out international seasons, the multi-award-winning Lewis Major brings Triptych, a stunning fusion of movement, light and design, exploring poetic possibilities, universal rhythms and non-duality. His production promises to stir deep emotions, leaving audiences spellbound.

Cabaret powerhouse Michelle Pearson presents Skinny, a vibrant and urgent show challenging toxic diet culture through soaring vocals and heartfelt storytelling. Celebrating self-acceptance and redefining beauty, Skinny is a timely and compelling performance not to be missed. Award-winning playwright Madelaine Nunn presents FLICK, a darkly comic and gripping one-woman show about life, death, and difficult choices.

Across the weekend, LYR, the genre-defying trio fronted by UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, alongside musician Richard Walters and producer Patrick Pearson, also return. Fusing spoken word with ambient post-rock, LYR creates powerful soundscapes where poetic narratives meet soaring melodies and textured instrumentation.

Get ready for euphoric music, joy and glittering sermon as House of Life brings its cult cabaret spectacular to Latitude. Led by the flamboyant RaveRend and house band The Trevettes, this one-night-only event blends rave, ritual and ridiculousness in a celebration of togetherness. After a smash-hit run at Edinburgh, The Guardian hailed it as “a glittering benediction from a joyously funky double act.”

Experience Shakespeare as you’ve never seen before with Dysphoria Arts and Twice Shy Theatre’s Shakespearean Cabaret. This high-octane revue fuses the Bard’s iconic scenes with the wild spirit of festival performance, featuring aerial artistry, puppetry, and original music. It’s a dazzling blend of homage and rebellion, perfect for those who appreciate classic literature with a contemporary twist.

A cultural melting pot of music, comedy, theatre, literature, poetry, dance and more, set against our idyllic Suffolk backdrop; Latitude’s 19th edition is yours for the taking.

Weekend and Day tickets are on sale now. Less than two months to go…