Hosted at the Leeds Corn Exchange, City Varieties Music Hall and Leeds Town Hall, the two-week festival will take place between September 13 and September 27. Here are 15 of the names lined up to take part. Visit leedsinternationalfestival.com for full details or to make a booking.
7. Grace Dent
The Guardian critic and author joins a panel of food experts to explore the foods of the future and the future of food. The debate takes place at City Varieties Music Hall on September 20 at 7pm.
8. Evan Davis
The economic expert and BBC presenter will take part in a panel discussion examining whether the media is broken. It will be held at Leeds Town Hall on September 24 at 7pm.
9. Caroline Criado Perez
The author behind Invisible Women, Caroline Criado Perez campaigned to feature the first woman on British bank notes. She joins a panel to discuss the conditionality of the everyday structures we take for granted and the extraordinary people struggling for equality. It takes place at Leeds Town Hall on September 23 at 7pm.
10. Gina Martin
The campaigner, speaker and writer joins a panel to discuss the conditionality of the everyday structures we take for granted and the extraordinary people struggling for equality. It takes place at Leeds Town Hall on September 23 at 7pm.
11. Matthew Parris
The multi-award winning Parliamentary sketch writer will take part in a panel discussion examining whether the media is broken. It will be held at Leeds Town Hall on September 24 at 7pm.
12. Sir Lenny Henry
A prolific figure in British TV for more than 45 years, the actor, comedian and campaigner is among the festival's keynote speakers. He will share experiences from his life in showbusiness and explore whether we can reclaim troubled or controversial tropes and genres through intelligent, empathetic, and diverse casting. The event takes place at Leeds Corn Exchange on September 25 at 7pm.