The full line-up for this year's Chester Festival of Ideas of almost 100 free events has now been unveiled.

It features a range of diverse, inclusive and accessible events for the four-day festival - with guest bookings now open.

Organised by the University of Chester and partners, the festival is back after its inaugural success in 2024.

Aiming to celebrate, entertain, inform and inspire, the festival will take place from 3 - 6 July 2025.

All the details are available and places can now be booked on the Festival of Ideas website, with events hosted at venues across Chester.

This will include Chester Town Hall - as the festival hub, Storyhouse, the Grosvenor Museum, Chester Cathedral, Chester Market, Chester Picturehouse and event spaces across the University of Chester.

Attendees can enjoy speakers, discussion panels, theatre, pop-up exhibitions, interactive events, music, readings, guided walks and much more.

A new name added to the list of guests this year is Jane Lasonder - survivor, global advocate and keynote speaker on human trafficking.

She is chair of the Hope for Justice Survivor Leadership Council and Vice Chair of the International Survivors of Trafficking Advisory Council.

During the event, Jane will discuss 'Hidden in Plain Sight: Unmasking Trafficking and Slavery in Our Communities'.

Other speakers include seven-time Paralympian champion, Hannah Cockroft OBE; former chief news correspondent for the BBC, Kate Adie CBE; writer and broadcaster, Natalie Haynes, and full-time GP, author, ambassador for The National Wildlife Trust and The Butterfly Conservation Society, Dr Amir Khan.

City festival partners will feature, with members of the public being invited to interact with historical objects, join talks and behind-the-scenes experiences from the Grosvenor Museum, and an exhibition and discussions from Cheshire Archives and Local Studies.

Alongside this, a wide range of talks and experiences from authors of the University of Chester Press will be presented, including sharing the story of the Foundling Hospital at Chester and the Cheshire Magna Carta, and schools will host events around the theme of 'Our Future in Our Hands'.

Cllr Louise Gittins said: "The Council is delighted to be working with partners on the second Festival of Ideas in Chester.

"I'm thrilled our Museums and Archives and Local Studies teams are involved again.

"It's going to be a fabulous four days for the city, with something for everyone."

While all events are free to attend and walk-ins are welcome, organisers are encouraging attendees to book in advance (other than for drop-in activities) to secure their spot.

please visit the festival website here.