The festival and free speech

For 28 years the Oxford Literary Festival has been committed to: freedom of speech, debate and diversity, maintaining a tradition of courteous dialogue, allowing for contentious and difficult subjects to be publicly discussed and examined.

The Oxford Literary Festival is a place where intellectual curiosity is nurtured and standards are set. It is conceived as a platform for dialogue, where the big ideas of the world can be freely debated in an intellectual but congenial atmosphere. Attendees are given access to some of the world’s leading thinkers, and the opportunity to question and debate with them. In an era when there is an increasing desire to shut down free speech, the festival is a platform for free expression.

Over the decades we have welcomed speakers of every faith, and none; politicians and political thinkers of every persuasion; representatives of every minority and special interest group; as well as Nobel, Booker and Pulitzer Prize winners; former Presidents and Premiers and leading figures in every field of literature, philosophy, the arts, science, technology and the environment, and human endeavour.

Each year the festival stages a series of international programmes to celebrate the literature and culture of those countries or continents. These have included: India, Africa, USA, Ireland, Spain, Italy and China. We believe that offering a diverse range of speakers, writers and thinkers is a key way to promote authentic representation of other cultures. The multicultural character of the city and the university in Oxford provides a fitting backdrop. We see ourselves as a global and multicultural resource.

For decades the festival has been subject to threats of boycotts, platforming, protests, disruptions and even physical violence. No invitation has ever been withdrawn.

We are greatly encouraged by the support of the many thousand of the festival supporters each year who wish to hear dissenting voices on every topic, ask questions, meet the speakers, and make up their own minds.

This is a tradition we will do everything to preserve and maintain.