British Academy reveals dates and early headliners for annual Summer Showcase, ahead of launching newly reimagined events offer

British Academy reveals dates and early headliners for annual Summer Showcase, as it plans to launch newly reimagined events offer

The British Academy – the UK's national body for the humanities and social sciences – has revealed the dates and an early teaser of confirmed headliners for its 2024 Summer Showcase.

On 12-13 July, the Academy will throw open the doors of its Grade-I listed home – located a stone’s throw from St James’ Park, Buckingham Palace and Westminster – for its annual festival of ideas, set to celebrate and engage the public with the humanities and social sciences research and researchers shaping our world.

Early confirmed headliners include Professor Gary Younge, an Honorary Fellow of the British Academy – and political journalist Zeinab Badawi, 2018 recipient of the Academy’s prestigious President’s Medal. Events are free but attendees are encouraged to register their interest now to avoid missing out on places. The full programme is set to be revealed in the spring.

This year’s Summer Showcase will also serve as a taster of the Academy's brand-new cultural events programme, starting in September 2024, which will mobilise leading thinkers, researchers and artists to show how the insight and knowledge from the humanities and social sciences shape and aid greater understanding of our world.

The full Autumn 2024 programme will be unveiled at the Summer Showcase and will feature the Academy’s Fellows and funded researchers, among others.

Professor Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said:

“The Summer Showcase – a few days across which we see Academy bustling and brimming with knowledge exchange and ideas – rings a clear and optimistic message: the humanities and social sciences matter. This year’s Showcase is especially exciting, serving as the kick-off to a jam-packed year of expanded public events programming which will connect a curious public with the people shaping how we understand the world: from leading thinkers we all know and recognise, to the emerging public intellectuals of tomorrow. We are truly so excited to reveal more of the programme and of our plans for 2024 and beyond.”