History Festival 2026
Now in its fourth year, the 黑料传送门 History Festival has welcomes world-leading historians to share their knowledge with an audience of all ages. Open to pupils and students across the Southeast, as well as the history curious of all and any age.聽
tickets now live
history festival – 11am SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2026
Our 2026 line up:
Battle: The Moments that Transformed Warfare from Ancient Greece to Ukraine by Iain MacGregor
Why did some armies fight on when defeat seemed certain? How did leaders like Alexander the Great, Robert the Bruce and Horatio Nelson change the course of history? Join bestselling historian Iain MacGregor for a thrilling journey through 3,000 years of conflict, drawing on his new book聽Battle: The Moments That Transformed Warfare from Ancient Greece to Ukraine.
From the shield walls of ancient Greece to the drone warfare of modern Ukraine, this fascinating talk explores the five forces that have shaped victory and defeat throughout history: Morale, Leadership, Innovation, Subterfuge, Timing & Numbers. Travel from Marathon, Alesia and Bannockburn to the Spanish Armada, Stalingrad and Kyiv, discovering the dramatic moments when battles changed not just wars, but the course of civilisation itself.聽
Perfect for anyone who loves military history, great storytelling and the epic characters who shaped our world.
The Blood in Winter: The Thrilling Story of England’s Descent Into Civil War by Jonathan Healey
A nation on the cusp of war. A king ousted from his capital by the people. A society on the brink of collapse. From Jonathan Healey comes a thrilling history about the months that sent England into civil war.
After years of tension between a king and his people, in 1641 England reaches a semblance of peace. Armies have disbanded, legislation has passed to ensure Parliament will continue to sit, and the people are tentatively optimistic.
Then comes winter. With it, chaos, protests, political deadlock, and eventually a remarkable attempt by King Charles I to destroy his opponents. On 4 January 1642 Charles marches on the small riverside city of Westminster at the head of an army, seeking to arrest five Members of Parliament. In doing so, he sets in motion a series of events that will lead to bloodshed and war, changing a nation forever.
Jonathan Healey is Associate Professor in Social History at the University of Oxford. His previous book, The Blazing World: A New History of Revolutionary England, was selected as a book of the year by the Telegraph, Economist and New Yorker.
This is a community event to share learning and educational opportunities with everyone and essential for young students of history wishing to extend their knowledge. Students of all schools may attend for free – use promotion code STUDENT.
Orator: The Life of Cicero and the End of the Roman Republic by Catharine Edwards
When the Roman statesman Cicero was murdered in 43 BCE, his head was cut off and his tongue pierced with pins 鈥� a final, brutal act of revenge against a man whose words had shaped a generation and made him many enemies. Rising from provincial obscurity to the highest elected office in Rome, Cicero became the greatest orator of his age, a figure who believed that speech itself could defend a republic.
In this gripping new biography, the distinguished classicist Catharine Edwards brings Cicero vividly to life, revealing both the brilliance and the contradictions of a man caught between principle and ambition. At a moment when democratic institutions feel fragile, and the power of persuasion is once again under scrutiny, Cicero鈥檚 life speaks to us with renewed urgency.
Catharine Edwards is a professor of Classics and Ancient History at Birkbeck, University of London. She is one of the world鈥檚 foremost experts on Roman History. A Fellow of the British Academy, she is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4鈥檚 In Our Time, presented a three-part TV series on Roman imperial women for BBC Four in 2018, and writes regularly for the Times Literary Supplement.
The MI5 Archive: Official Secrets By Mark Dunton and Stephen Twigge
Regnum Defende: Defend the Realm. MI5, the intelligence agency responsible for
protecting the UK against threats to national security, has acted under this motto since it was founded in 1909. This has involved the management of secrets over the decades: secrets for which vast swathes of information are now declassified.
Detailing plots, subterfuge, surveillance, trials and executions and exploring themes of deception, intrigue, courage and betrayal, The MI5 Archive presents a window into the world of spycraft that has kept British democracy safe. Learn about the exploits of extraordinarily successful female agents and the psychology of traitors working in the shadows.
From interrogations to surveillance logs, coded messages to intercepted phone calls, The MI5 Archive charts the clandestine activities of MI5 right from its inception.
Mark Dunton is Principal Contemporary Records Specialist at The National Archives, London, and has in-depth knowledge of researching public records, with a particular interest in security and intelligence records.
Copies of the author鈥檚 books will be available to purchase and each talk will be followed by a book signing. Thank you to Village Books in Dulwich Village for being the official bookseller of our festival!
Book your tickets here
Students from all schools and colleges can gain a free ticket using the code ‘STUDENT’ in the box below (remember to click ‘apply’ for the code to work.)
