How The Light Gets In 2015

Patrick Wolf, East India Youth, Lianne La Havas, Fiona Bevan, The 2 Bears, Rae Morris, Stornoway, Jamie Woon, Sam and the Womp, and many more

HowTheLightGetsIn, the world's largest philosophy and music festival, is back for 2015 with more stages, performers and debates than ever before. The full programme has now launched, featuring new highlights like the spellbinding Spiegel Circus, vintage rides and a huge new music tent, the Hat.

With 300 events and more performers than ever before, the music line-up at HowTheLightGetsIn 2015 is set to be our biggest and best yet. Secure your place on the dancefloor with one of our Festival Passes. Find the pass that suits you and get unlimited access to our music, comedy, cabaret and film line-up for the duration of your pass.

This year’s #HTLGI15 line-up has something for everyone. Rising star and MOBO nominee, Jamie Woon; the music legend behind the number one hit 'Show Me Heaven', Maria McKee; flamboyant gypsy dance masters, Molotov Jukebox; YouTube sensation, Patrick Wolf; top DJ, Ewan Pearson; contagiously catchy band, Sam and the Womp; and a group of award-winning, hilarious comedians.

We'll also be welcoming The 2 Bears (Raf Daddy), Fiona Bevan, Mike Skinner, FEMME, East India Youth, Rae Morris, Lianne La Havas, Stornoway, Luke Sital-Singh, Cara Dillon, Alejandro Toledo and the Magic Tombolinos and The Correspondents; not to mention many more acts which you can see in our full festival line-up on our website.

This year’s debates and talks theme is ‘Fantasy and Reality’; in our topsy-turvy, postmodern, and often virtual world, has the real become a mirage created from our fantasies? And which current fantasies will become tomorrow's reality? Join speakers such as Natalie Bennett, Terry Eagleton, Polly Toynbee, Rupert Sheldrake, Joanne Harris, Paul Krugman, Sally Phillips, Warren Ellis, Diane Abbott and many more as we tackle these questions with big ideas from the world’s leading thinkers. Tickets are available now for our full debate line-up.

Last year HowTheLightGetsIn 2014 included over 450 events and 35,000 people came to Hay-on-Wye to see speakers such as Owen Jones, Marcus Brigstocke, Beatrix Campbell, Joanna Kavenna and many, many more. Our parties have been presided over by the likes of Kate Tempest, Clean Bandit and internationally-acclaimed composer Michael Nyman.

Why not become a Friend of the Institute of Art and Ideas to get a further 10% off your tickets and passes? Be sure to check our Tickets and Programme page soon before Earlybird prices run out.

Keep an eye on our website for a few more surprises before the festival in May. We look forward to seeing you in Hay!