Our pick of the highlights from the Cambridge Festival 2025

The full programme for The Cambridge Festival 2025 has launched, with a huge list of talks, workshops and performances to attend - and places are booking up fast.

The festival, which is a joint venture between Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin University, is taking place from March 19 to April 4. Most of the events are free or low cost and offer access to world experts on a wide range of subjects. Plus there are hands-on events for the whole family to enjoy.

We have sifted through the hundreds of events to discover the ones that are not to be missed.

Highlights Include:

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter: The Art of Uncertainty: Living with Chance, Ignorance, Risk and Luck (2 April)

We live in a world where uncertainty is inevitable. How should we deal with what we don’t know? And what role do chance, luck and coincidence play in our lives? David Spiegelhalter has spent his career dissecting data in order to understand risks and assess the chances of what might happen in the future. In his recent book The Art of Uncertainty, he gives readers a window onto how we can all do this better.

Dr Harry Cliff – The Discovery Factory: 150 Years of the Cavendish Laboratory (27 March)

Dr Harry Cliff will celebrate the scientific breakthroughs made at the Cavendish Laboratory, including the discovery of DNA, and discuss how these innovations continue to shape science and technology in the face of global challenges like climate change and technological progress.

There’s a double-whammy of Arthurian legend on offer at the festival. First up is Kit Treadwell – Who Was King Arthur? (22 March)
Treadwell will explore how medieval authors adapted the Arthurian legend to engage with issues of identity, tolerance, and coexistence, reflecting on how these themes remain relevant in today’s world.

Then check out the latest research into his wizard sidekick with a talk from Amélie Deblauwe, Irène Fabry-Tehranchi, and Błażej.

Władysław Mikuła – Unveiling the Secrets of Merlin (26 March)

This talk will showcase how modern digitisation techniques, including multispectral imaging and X-ray technology, are unlocking the mysteries of a 16th-century French manuscript of the Merlin legend, offering fresh insights into fragile texts lost to time.

Cambridge Masonic Hall open day (29 March)

Who hasn’t wondered what a masonic hall really looks like? Cambridge Freemasons are inviting visitors into their premises at Bateman street to discover what the purpose of the organisation is, and to see how it benefits both the individual and society in general.

Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World exhibition (27 March)

This exhibition, opening on March 27, will explore medieval approaches to health and disease, highlighting surprising parallels with modern-day healthcare challenges. From herbal remedies to surgical techniques, it will illuminate how medieval practices still resonate in our conversations about health and accessibility.

Professor Martin A Ruehl – What is Fascism? (20 March)

Professor Martin Ruehl will explore the lasting appeal of fascism and its influence on contemporary debates about democracy, free speech, and political accountability, urging reflection on both historical ideologies and modern-day political challenges.

Dr Erin MB O’Halloran – Cambridge Prehistory of Partitions walking tour (21-22 March)

Dr O’Halloran’s walking tour will examine the historical roots of colonial partitions in India, Pakistan, and Israel, exploring Cambridge’s role in shaping these pivotal moments of self-determination and their ongoing impact on global conflicts today.

Alexandra Zhirnova – Mary of Egypt: A Black Saint in Anglo-Saxon England? (22 March)

Zhirnova’s talk explores how race, gender, and religion intersect in medieval England through the figure of Mary of Egypt. By examining her portrayal as a dark-skinned saint, Zhirnova challenges dominant narratives of race and virtue in early Christianity, offering new insights into the ongoing conversation about racial justice.

Dr Robert Rohland – How Did the Greeks and Romans Seize the Day? (26 March)

Dr Rohland will take a light-hearted look at how ancient Greek and Roman cultures embraced the idea of Carpe diem, exploring how the pursuit of joy and living in the moment shaped daily life then—and how it continues to influence modern culture today.

Scientific Women at the Whipple Museum (29 March)

This special exhibition will honour the contributions of women in science, including pioneers like Rosalind Franklin and lesser-known figures in astronomy and chemistry, highlighting their vital role in scientific progress and aligning with ongoing calls for gender equality in STEM fields.

Family events

There are plenty of things to enjoy for the whole family, but here are three of the best:

An audience with Michael Rosen (29 March)

Michael Rosen, one of Britain's best loved writers and performance poets, is hosting a special family show. The author of classics, 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt', 'Chocolate Cake', 'The Sad Book' and 'A Great Big Cuddle,' Michael is also a former Children's Laureate. Michael will share poems and stories from across his career.

Michael's books will be available to buy and have signed at the end of the event.

Earth sciences fair (29 March)

Visit the Sedgwick Museum to meet the scientists of the University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences, renowned for its world-class research. Take part in hands-on activities and find out what it's like to research fossils, earthquakes, tackle environmental challenges and more. Bring along any interesting rock or fossil you have found and have it identified.

Partial solar eclipse watch (29 March)

The Institute of Astronomy is hosting a safe way to watch a partial Solar Eclipse. From 10am to 12pm on Saturday 29 March, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, with maximum coverage of 31 per cent occurring at 11:04am. The Institute will be holding an eclipse watch-along on its lawn, as well as offering views of the eclipse through telescopes. Solar viewing glasses will be provided - it is very important that you do not look at the sun with the naked eye. Please note that this event is weather dependent — the eclipse can only be seen if the sky is clear.

Visit festival.cam.ac.uk/ for ticket and more.