Craig Wilkinson

Can we really learn the lessons of history? Join social philosopher Roman Krznaric for a discussion about his new book History for Tomorrow: How the Past Can Inspire Our Future, which explores what insights we can find in the last 1000 years of world history for tackling ten of the most urgent challenges of the twenty-first century. What can the coffee houses of Georgian London teach us about taming the polarisations of social media? How can the forgotten history of communal democracy help us tackle the rise of far-right populism? What can we learn from the slave revolts of the past for confronting the climate crisis? How might understanding the origins of capitalism spark ideas for bringing AI under control? History, Roman argues, offers a vision of radical hope that could turn out to be our most vital tool for surving and thriving in the turbulent decades ahead.

This panel brings to Byline the radical idea that our only chance of tackling the power of the tech oligarchs, the rise of authoritarianism, climate collapse, perpetual wars for the last resources, AI unchecked... is to address the fundamental crisis which is in the way humanity comes together to make decisions. Four speakers with varied but deep experience and reflections on this idea, whose time has come.

Panel:

Jamie Kelsey, long-time activist and a leading voice in the democracy renewal movement, involved in campaigns from Reclaim The Streets to Extinction Rebellion. In 2024, he founded One World Or None to promote new democracy models through popular culture.

Jane Suiter, Irish political scientist and director at Dublin City University, known for pioneering citizen deliberation through projects like We the Citizens and Ireland’s citizens’ assemblies. Her work has influenced major democratic reforms in Ireland and informed global citizen governance efforts.

Peter Geoghegan, edits Democracy for Sale, an Investigative newsletter with more than 28,000 subscribers. His recent book, Democracy for Sale: Dark Money and Dirty Politics, was a Sunday Times bestseller’

Joe Mulhall, historian, writer and anti-fascist and music journalist. He is Director of Research at the UK’s largest anti-fascism organisation, HOPE not hate.

Martin Rowson

Written by Michael Berners Lee, who consults, thinks, writes and researches on sustainability and responses to 21st century problems. He is the author of acclaimed books, including A Climate of Truth, There is No Planet B and How Bad Are Bananas? The carbon footprint of everything. As founder and director of Small World Consulting he helps organisations of all sizes and sectors to address the challenges of the Anthropocene. He is a professor at Lancaster University, where his research includes supply chain carbon modelling, sustainable food systems and the environmental impact of ICT. He has made numerous speaking, radio and television broadcast appearances to promote public awareness of sustainability and climate change issues. In February 2025, he was awarded the Planet Earth Award by the Alliance of World Scientists for his work on seeking solutions to environmental challenges.

The recent TV series Adolescence has woken many up to the dangers of disinformation to young men these two experts will consider the dangers and more importantly what we can do about it…

James Bloodworth, author of Lost Boys

Hardeep Matharu, Editor in Cheif, Byline Times

Nazir Afzal, OBE

Screening of 2073 by Academy award winning director, Asif Kapadia’s new film,

Director Q&A and discussion with Carole Cadwalladr

Climate workshop exploring political anxiety with Deobrah Christie

Isla Telford, creative producer and event director with a commitment to using art to invite equity of access to the public domain.

Laurel Gallagher, creative director responsible for education, partnerships and dissemination. A practicing visual artist with a background in arts education, Laurel is passionate about young people’s rights to public space and creative autonomy.

Jenny Harper, documentary photographer interested in real stories and how people interact with each other and places. She brings our projects to life by capturing artists and communities through photography and film. Director of Urban Wilderness CIC’s financial and legal process.

The aim of the panel is to highlight the problem of media fatigue on Gaza and the way that it is being ignored by politicians around the world and what can be done about it.

Peter Oborne

Alexandra Hall Hall

Peter Jukes

Asmaa' Azaizei TBC

Rachel Shabi

In a world where we’re constantly plugged in, it can be hard to figure out what’s real, what matters, and how to actually thrive online. This panel brings together creators, activists, digital natives to unpack what it really means to grow up in the age of algorithms, cancel culture, and endless scrolling. Expect real talk, honest takes, and advice you won’t find in a generic “how to be safe online slideshow.

Remi Olokun

Lily Mott

The ambitious son of a Russian oligarch attempts to become the first Russian pop star to make it big in the West. Just as his dream seems within reach, accusations that he helped Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election turn his life and dream upside down. Caught in one of the biggest international political scandals of all time, Breaking the West follows him as he tries to manage his story while protecting his father, their global business empire, and his musical ambitions.

Q&A with Bridget Hunnicutt and Eddie Stafford

Carole Cadwalladr

Hardeep Matharu

The panel aims to hear from women journalists and politicians about how social media and the internet is creating an often toxic and conspiratorial environment for their work and what can be done about it. The aim of the panels is to offer fresh perspectives and solutions rather than just focus on the problems.

Carole Cadwalladr

Hardeep Matharu, Editor in Cheif of Byline Times

Dawn Butler, a trailblazing British politician, the first elected African-Caribbean woman to become a UK Government Minister. She champions underrepresented groups, has held key roles in Parliament, and made history using British Sign Language in the Commons.

Naz Shah

Heidi Siegmund Cuda is an Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter, bestselling author, and columnist for Byline Supplement. She is co-host of the RADICALIZED Truth Survives podcast, producer/director of award-winning documentaries, and her Bette Dangerous Substack is read in 90 countries.

Mich Wright

This hands on workshop will explore how to build powerful, youth-led campaigns using digital tools, with a focus on the Votes at 16 movement. From crafting strong messages to choosing the right platforms, participants will learn how to turn passion into real online impact.
But this isn’t just about strategy, it’s also about perspective. The session will bring together insights from two different generations to explore how attitudes, experiences, and digital habits shape the way people engage with politics and activism. By comparing approaches, the group will unpack what resonates across age groups and what makes an issue like Votes at 16
relatable and relevant to everyone.
Participants will leave with practical tools for digital storytelling, content creation, and campaign planning, all rooted in the power of intergenerational collaboration.

Super Connected is a live multimedia show by musician and filmmaker Tim Arnold.

Combining a concept album, stage performance, and feature-length film, the show explores the human cost of Big Tech’s grip on daily life. Praised by The Times, Mojo, and The Quietus, Super Connected blends theatrical spectacle with urgent political commentary, described as “Radiohead meets Black Mirror.” After being banned by streaming platforms, the project gained national attention when Arnold’s campaign led to the ban being lifted in 2023. Performed entirely in person, Super Connected is designed to be experienced communally — never streamed — and arrives at Byline Festival for one night only.

South-east London-based band known for their dark pop sound, described as a blend of early 1980s pop and 1975-esque post-modern swagger

The Farm are Liverpool indie legends and pioneers of the 90s dance-rock crossover.
Best known for their Number One album Spartacus and the anthemic hit All Together Now, they rose to fame in 1990 with a sound that fused late-80s dance rhythms with classic British pop. Instantly recognisable for their upbeat, electro-tinged energy and terrace-mod style, The Farm became cult icons of the era. Now reformed and re-energised, the band return in 2025 with Moment In Time, their first new release in over a decade, ahead of a long-awaited fifth album.