The festival and free speech

For 30 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 the key to promoting 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 No invitation has ever been withdrawn.

Despite facing threats of boycotts, platforming, protests, disruptions, and even physical violence over the years, we have never withdrawn an invitation. We are greatly encouraged by the support of the thousands of festival attendees each year, who come to hear dissenting voices on every topic, ask questions, meet the speakers, and form their own opinions.

This tradition of open dialogue and free expression is one we are committed to preserving and maintaining.

The Oxford Literary Festival sponsors, donors & partners

The Telegraph Festival media partner University of Oxford European Union Bodleian Libraries Festival cultural partner Oxford Martin School Festival ideas partner Oxford Mathematics Spanish Embassy The Spanish Embassy: supporters of the programme of Spanish literature and culture Spain Arts and Culture Blackwell’s Festival on-site and online bookseller Symington Wines of the Douro Valley HM Government of Gibraltar Compassion in World Farming Pasture to Plate Old Bank Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Old Parsonage Hotel Five-star hotel partners of The Oxford Collection Oxford Brookes University Oxford International Centre for Publishing Gravita Accountants to the festival Mirabaud Private bank - London Confucius Institute Voltaire Foundation Felicity Bryan Associates Goldmoney Properties Princeton University Press Prestige publishing partner. Celebrating 25 years in Europe in 2024 Oxford University Department for Continuing Education Jewish Book Week Partner of Oxford Literary Festival Pol Roger Duff Cooper Prize Jim Mellon Miles Young Tim and Marion Stevenson Martin and Elise Becket Smith Jason and Heidi Smith David Isaac Other donors Yale University Press London New College New College founded 1379 Exeter College Exeter College: college home of the festival. Founded 1314 Worcester College Worcester College founded 1714 Lincoln College Lincoln College founded 1427 Trinity College Trinity College founded 1555 Magdalen College Magdalen College founded 1458 Reuben College Reuben College founded in 2019 Harris Manchester College Harris Manchester College founded 1893 Pusey House Founded 1884 New Dutch Writing Human Ecology Project MACROVegan Colbenson Festival digital strategy & web design Racalia Olive Oil Olive oil from Sicily Paul Bloomfield Ltd University of Oxford Alumni Office Alumni Office The Sheldonian Theatre Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Italian Cultural Institute Oxford University Images Oxford University Images CAV Oxford The Litmus Partnership Schoolreaders Science Oxford Windrush Group The Oxford Times BBC Radio Oxford Local radio partner Conference Oxford Ox in a Box OX magazine