Get inspired by Britain’s brightest minds from Robert Macfarlane to Dame Harriet Walker at The Conversation in London

The Summer series of The Conversation asks the questions “How do we talk about the world we have made? And where do we go from here? We will celebrate the natural world with Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane and Andrea Wulf. We have two events with Harriet Walter and Janina Ramirez who reclaim and champion women’s voices, and three powerful explorations of global justice with Jonathan Sumption, Selina Nwulu and Oliver Bullough. We mark the 250th anniversary of American independence with the historian Sarah Churchwell and the living legend Armistead Maupin. And we have a headline interview with Ali Smith, whose latest novel confirms her status as a truly great chronicler of our turbulent times.

Running from 5th May to 28th July, the summer season of The Conversation 2026 will tackle topics including the LGBTQ+ culture of San Francisco as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of author Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City; what Shakespeare’s women really were thinking with Harriet Walter; why conversations on our planet’s future must focus on those most affected with Selina Nwulu; the battle for modern America with historian Sarah Churchwell; the limits and breaking points of democracy in the modern world with Jonathan Sumption; how money laundering and the dirty economy works with Oliver Bullough; and we explore contemporary life and language with Ali Smith. We imagine how the lives of birds intersect with our own with Jackie Morris and Robert Macfarlane; reveal the real women behind historical legends with Janina Ramirez, and celebrate the life of explorer George Forster with Andrea Wulf.

The Conversation is programmed by Peter Florence and takes place at St Martin-in-the-Fields on Tuesday nights with tickets from £10. The Conversation invites members of the audience to carry on the conversation and engage directly with the speaker following each event. The talks are also available to be live streamed and watched from anywhere in the world.

Full information on The Conversation is available here: stmartin-in-the-fields.org/the-conversation/

Peter Florence, Director of The Conversation has said: “Each of these writers sets you off on adventures of imagination and action. Themes and experiences resonate through the season – of wonder as well as of deep crisis. And I love the idea of extending the familiar interview format into a wider conversation. It’s wonderful to see what happens when the audience takes up the thoughts and storylines. Trust the room.”

Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields since 2012 has said: “St Martin in the Fields has always been a beacon of social justice campaigning and action. We hope The Conversation will continue and extend that tradition of questioning and challenging assumptions and narratives, and will celebrate all our many, welcome visitors.”

Ticket Info
Location: St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 4JJ.
Dates: 5th May – 28th July
Time: Tuesdays from 7pm – 8.30pm
Price: £10 for in person tickets. £10 for online tickets
Ticket Link: https://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/the-conversation/
Box Office: 020 7766 1100 BoxOffice@smitf.org