Presiding Officer's welcome
I am delighted to introduce the programme for the 2025 Festival of Politics.
We present a varied programme of issues that matter and affect you and provide a platform to actively discuss issues that impact people in Scotland and across the world.
From international politics and conflict, to the wonders of crofting, the rise of misogyny; and an analysis of the big debates that lie ahead as we approach the Holyrood 2026 election; academics and experts in the field give their perspective and invite your participation.
We are also delighted to welcome award winning journalist and BBC foreign correspondent Clive Myrie to discuss his incredible career; and the well-known academic and author Professor Danny Dorling as two of the many respected speakers at this year’s Festival.
We have a lively free programme of choirs, music, visual art exhibitions, and even robots in the Festival Café Bar. We look forward to welcoming you all at your Scottish Parliament.
Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP
Presiding Officer
Fàilte bhon Oifigear Riaghlaidh
Tha mi air leth toilichte prògram Fèis Phoilitigs 2025 a thaisbeanadh dhuibh.
Tha iomadh cuspair eadar-dhealaichte a tha cudromach agus a’ toirt buaidh oirbh sa phrògram againn, a bhios na chothrom beachdachaidh air gnothaichean a bheir buaidh air daoine ann an Alba agus air feadh an t-saoghail. Bho phoilitigs agus còmhstri eadar-nàiseanta, gu iongantasan saoghal na croitearachd, èirigh ann an gràin-bhoireann agus sùil gheur air na deasbadan mòra a tha romhainn agus sinn a’ dlùthachadh air taghadh Taigh an Ròid 2026, bidh acadaimigich agus eòlaichean a’ toirt seachad am beachd agus a’ toirt cuireadh dhuibh pàirt a ghabhail sa chùis.
Am measg iomadh neach-labhairt ainmeil aig Fèis na bliadhna sa, tha sinn air leth toilichte fàilte a chur air an neach-naidheachd agus neach-aithris cliùiteach air cùisean cèin aig a’ BhBC Clive Myrie gus beachdachadh air a bheatha-obrach iongantaich, agus air an sgoilear agus ùghdar ainmeil, an t-Àrd-ollamh Danny Dorling.
Tha prògram beòthail an-asgaidh againn de chòisirean, ceòl, taisbeanaidhean ealain lèirsinneach, agus fi ù ròbotan ann am Bàr Cafaidh na Fèise. Tha sinn a’ dèanamh fi ughair ri fàilte a chur oirbh uile aig ur Pàrlamaid na h-Alba.
Am Fìor Urr. Alison Johnstone BPA
Oifi gear Riaghlaidh
Event programme
Visit our homepage for the full Festival programme.
A PDF version is also available:
Festival of Politics Programme 2025 (17MB, pdf) posted 12 June 2025
Festival Café Bar
Join us in the lively FREE Festival Café Bar for a programme of choirs, exhibitions and robots as part of the free entertainment.
The full line-up will be added here soon.
Tickets and pricing
- All tickets can be booked online via our ticketing partner, Citizen Ticket
- After checkout is complete, you'll receive an email with a link to your 'ticket wallet', as well as a QR code. This is where all your digital tickets are saved. There's no need to access this page unless you need to transfer tickets to somebody else. Simply keep your QR code handy, and ensure our staff can scan it from your mobile phone screen on the day of your visit. You will use this one QR code for all your Festival events
- Concession tickets are available to children aged 5 to 16, Young Scot card holders, people aged 60 and over, students, unemployed people and disabled people
- All tickets can be booked online and will be available to buy up to one hour before each event
- A limited number of tickets can be booked in person on the day at the Ticket Desk in the Festival Café Bar. Arrival at least 30 minutes prior to the event starting is advised. No phone bookings can be made
- The Festival Café Bar and all exhibitions are free to access and unticketed
- We reserve the right to change or cancel any event
- We cannot offer refunds or exchanges unless an event is cancelled
Crèche
The crèche will be open on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 August between 10am and 6pm for anyone who wishes to book a place.
Please contact 0131 348 6192 or email creche@parliament.scot
Exhibitions
The National Robotarium
Find out more about human-robot interaction through this exhibition from the UK’s centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence based at the Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt University and meet one of their robotic innovations.
Visualising the Scottish Parliament
Robert Gordon University present their 3D digital representation work, featuring the architecture of the Scottish Parliament and Debating Chamber.
Give me some credit!
This powerful photographic exhibition highlights the impact on families when affordable credit is denied, as curated by The Poverty Alliance and Fair by Design.
Books
We have a range books on sale, covering some of the topics covered by the Festival, including some authored by our panellists. Book signings will be arranged closer to the time.
You can also preorder your books via our online shop, and pick them up when you arrive. More information to follow.
Visiting us
Other activities at the Parliament
Find our more about tours, talks and visits on offer at the Parliament
Planning your visit
Our partners
Thank you to all our Festival partners:
- BBC Scotland
- COSLA
- Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights
- Centre for Public Policy, University of Glasgow
- The David Hume Institute
- Information Commissioner for Scotland
- John Smith Centre
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Stirling
- University of Strathclyde
- University of St Andrews
- University of the West of Scotland
- Scottish Care
- Scottish Council on Global Affairs
- Scotland’s Futures Forum
- Scottish Youth Film Foundation
- The National Robotarium
Contact us
You can phone Visitor Services on 0800 092 7500 / 0131 348 5000 or email us on visit@parliament.scot or festivalofpolitics@parliament.scot.