Festival of the Future City will return in 2023.
The fourth Festival of the Future City took place 20-21 October 2021.
The festival aims to be the largest public debate about the future of cities. It brings together politicians, writers, artists, scientists, change-makers, academics, journalists, students, the public, economists, futurists, policy makers, roboticists, philosophers, filmmakers, think tanks, charities, social enterprises, city-builders and more.
Festival themes in 2021 included: social justice; COP26 and inclusive and sustainable cities; urban and planetary health; cities and regions after the pandemic; film and cities; culture and cities; digital futures and cities; mayoral powers and future devolution; democracy and freedom of expression; levelling up; and the future of city and town centres.
Events were held in-person and online. Most events were on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 October, but activity also took place around those dates.
Festival of the Future City 2021
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
We The Curious | £10 / £8
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Free
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
YouTube | Free
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Free
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Festival of the Future City
YouTube | Free
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Youtube | Free
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Watershed | £10 / £8
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Festival of the Future City
Starts at Watershed | £8 / £6
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Watershed | Free
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Wills Memorial Building | Free
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Festival of the Future City
Watershed | Free
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Free
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Festival of the Future City
Starts at Watershed | £8 / £6
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Free
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Festival of the Future City
Crowdcast | Pay What You Can
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Festival of the Future City
Waterstones | Fully Booked
Promotional image for the 2021 festival created by Willem Hampson.

Projects Within Festival of the Future City
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Festival of the Future City
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Information on the reading project linked to the 70th anniversary of the novel 1984.
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Festival of the Future City
City Films
Information about the film programme within the 2019 Festival of the Future City.
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Festival of the Future City
Future City Publications
Publications produced as part of Festival of the Future City.