University brings stories, voices and hidden histories to Being Human Festival 2026

The University of Bedfordshire is partnering with The Higgins Bedford and the Panacea Museum to bring a programme of talks, exhibitions and creative workshops to this year’s Being Human Festival, celebrating the people, stories and ideas that connect communities through the humanities.

Taking place from 5–14 November 2026, Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, with support from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the British Academy. The annual festival explores how humanities research helps us understand the world around us, with this year’s theme, ‘Crossroads’, examining the intersections between people, places, histories and ideas.

The 2026 festival will feature more than 230 free events across 38 towns and cities throughout the UK, bringing researchers, cultural organisations, artists and local communities together to share knowledge and explore new perspectives.

In Bedford, the University of Bedfordshire’s programme brings together academic research, local heritage and creative practice through a series of events hosted at The Higgins Bedford and the Panacea Museum. Under the strand ‘Writing Lives at the Crossroads’, the programme explores the lives and legacies of people connected to Bedfordshire, as well as writers and thinkers whose work challenges boundaries and opens up new ways of seeing the world.

This year’s festival is led by Dr Nicola Darwood, Co-Director of the Institute of Humanities, Education and Arts Research at the University of Bedfordshire. Dr Darwood said: “Once again, it’s been a huge pleasure to work with the Panacea Museum and The Higgins Bedford to bring Being Human back to Bedford. We’ve got a great programme of talks and activities lined up, showcasing interesting research from the University of Bedfordshire, the Panacea Museum, The Higgins Bedford, and local writers and artists.”

Highlights from the University of Bedfordshire’s festival programme and how you can sign up to attend:

·         Discovering the Past through Literary Bedfordshire, 5 November

At The Higgins Bedford from 12.30pm – 1.30pm, Dr Nicola Darwood will introduce you to some of the writers who have lived or worked in Bedford over the centuries. You'll hear about some favourites but also some lesser known, or forgotten, writers. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/discovering-past-through-literary-bedfordshire

·         All Our Stories Happened Here, 6 November

At the Panacea Museum from 1pm - 2pm, Panacea Museum Director, Zara Matthews, will share her research into the Panacea Society – their faith, their lives and the bishops and the Box of Prophecies. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/all-our-stories-happened-here

·         George, A Windrush Boy, 12 November

At The Higgins Bedford from 1.30pm – 2.30pm, join Gilroy Gregory as he talks about his autobiographical novel, George (the teenage years) which tells the story of an 11-year-old Windrush boy who came to England from Jamaica and lived in South London during the 1960s - 70s. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/george-a-windrush-boy

·         Trevor Huddleston: The Man Behind the Statue, 13 November

At The Higgins Bedford from 11.30am – 12.30pm, this talk explores Archbishop Trevor Huddleston's life, his work with the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, and his role in the release from prison of Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/trevor-huddleston-man-behind-statue

·         Queering the Gothic in 10th Century Literature, 14 November

At The Higgins Bedford from 11.30am – 12.30pm, Ezra-Quinn Watson’s talk explores queer readings of Wuthering Heights (1847) by Emily Bronte; Jane Eyre (1847) by Charlotte Bronte; Northanger Abbey (1817) by Jane Austen; and Dorian Gray (1890) by Oscar Wilde. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/queering-gothic-19th-century-literature

·         Making a Chapbook, 14 November

At The Higgins Bedford from 2 – 3pm, learn all about the history and usage of chapbooks from Dr Nicola Darwood. Then take part in a workshop with artist Abigail Rai to make your own chapbook, exploring the art of bookbinding and zine making. Participants will use their chapbooks to voice ideas, drawings, poetry and more, as well as gain insight around self-publishing practices. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/making-a-chapbook

·         Rainbow Beds unbinaried – An Anthology of LGBTQ+ Creativity, 14 November

At The Higgins Bedford, from 12.30pm – 1.45pm, this event marks one year since the launch of unbinaried (volume I), an anthology of LGBTQ+ creativity produced by members of the Rainbow Bedfordshire Writers’ Group. It also marks the launch of ‘unbinaried II’. In this event, led by Dr Oli Belas, we’ll hear about the genesis of unbinaried and hear readings from some of its contributors. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/rainbow-beds-unbinaried-anthology-lgbtq-creativity

·         Advocating for Trans and Queer Inclusion in Community Sport, 4 – 15 November

At The Higgins Bedford daily from 4 – 15 November, 11am – 5pm, this exhibition will showcase recent research by Dr Alex Baird, Dr Kayden Schumacher, and Dr Helen Bushell-Thornalley, exploring trans and queer experiences of community sports. Discover more: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/advocating-trans-and-queer-inclusion-community-sport