With our unique position as the UK’s innovation foundation, we use FutureFest to gather some of the planet’s most radical thinkers, makers and performers together to create an immersive experience of what the world might be like in decades to come. In 2015, the content was anchored by six themes, examining the future of democracy, global cities, machine and human interaction, money, music, and thrills.

Highlights included NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden in conversation with Dame Vivienne Westwood, visionary musician George Clinton, journalist and best-selling author Jon Ronson, human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, and musician Matthew Herbert. The event also featured innovative installations and demonstrations including NEUROSIS – the world’s first neurological thrill ride, Paul A. Young and Dr. Morgaine Gaye’s Sweetshop of the Future and Emotive City by architecture design firm Minimaforms.

The inaugural FutureFest was held in east London over the weekend of 28-29 September 2013. The event was staged to help complement Nesta’s work as a research body, investor and programme funder as well as a producer of world-class events. Find out about the first FutureFest.

Support and contributions for FutureFest 2015 from Microsoft Research, the Science Museum, the British Council, the Oxford Martin School, Convergence, Signal Noise and our exclusive ticketing partner, Billetto.

Speakers

Edward Snowden

NSA whistle-blower

Dame Vivienne Westwood

Fashion designer

George Clinton

Visionary musician

Jon Ronson

Journalist and best-selling author

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC

Human rights lawyer

Matthew Herbert

Musician