Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. The School of Advanced Study is the UK's national centre for the pursuit, support and promotion of research in the humanities.

The festival is a celebration of humanities research through public engagement. Every year we help researchers in the humanities – from literature and history, languages and philosophy, art history and classics, and more – produce enjoyable events for public audiences that emphasise working with local communities to share ideas for mutual benefit.

The core festival objectives are to: 

• demonstrate the value of humanities research to society in the UK and globally;
• encourage, support and create opportunities for humanities researchers to engage with non-specialist audiences;
• embed and join together public engagement activities in the humanities across the Higher Education (HE) sector; and,
• demonstrate the relevance of the humanities to everyday life.

Deadlines for applying to Being Human Festival 2026

Institutional Grant and Festival Event Grant applications - Thursday 16 April, 5pm

New Generation Thinker Grant applications - Thursday 28 May, 5pm

Festival Event (unfunded) applications - Friday 3 July, 5pm