The programme is the heart of Limmud Festival. Across just a few days, you’ll find hundreds of sessions running side by side. The programme has everything from a hands-on paper-cutting workshop to a three-hour deep-dive into Talmud, from Israeli pop to a panel on the future of Jewish journalism, and so much more. There’s truly something for everyone, and no two people’s Festival will ever look quite the same.
This is your chance to build a completely personal Jewish experience. Come with an open mind, and leave having learned from presenters and ideas you’d never otherwise have encountered.
The majority of our programme is made up of sessions led by people just like you. Whether you have a fascinating family history to share, a niche interest in the Jewish history of comic books, or a meaningful Jewish text to teach, we’d love for you to be part of the programme. The rest of our programme is filled with experts who we invite from around the world, and the UK, including top academics, virtuoso musicians, titans of Jewish thought, major political thinkers, and much more.
Explore last year’s Festival programme or an example day here to get a sense of what sort of sessions will be in store for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
The full programme will be published around a month before the Festival but we will be sharing presenters as they’re confirmed on our mailing list and social media, make sure you sign up or follow us to keep up to date.
Since most presenters are self-invited, the best route is to encourage that person to come and present themselves. If you’re keen and know about the topic yourself, you could take the plunge and present the session yourself. Learn more here.
Wonderful — almost all of our presenters are participants. Click here for everything you need to know about submitting a session.
Not at all — sessions cater to every level, from complete beginners to lifelong learners. If you’re not sure where to start, browse by track rather than by how “advanced” a topic sounds.
Definitely. Social Programming runs throughout the day specifically to bring people together, alongside the natural mingling that happens between sessions in the corridors, the bar, and in the dining room.
That’s normal! Nobody sees everything at Festival, and that’s part of the fun. You can use the guidebook to plan your days and it’s always good to check out the presenter description and the session description to help make your choice. The best way is often to ask a volunteer or a fellow participant for recommendations.
All sessions are first come, first served. This allows you to be spontaneous about your choices and follow the recommendation you might have just received from a fellow participant in the lunch queue. Sometimes those sessions are the best ones you go to.
Your Festival ticket includes access to all sessions.
There’s a lot going on, and that’s by design! Start with the Guidebook app/printed handbook, and don’t be afraid to try something you’ve never considered before. If a session isn’t for you, it’s completely fine to leave and find another.
Most Limmud presenters are self-invited — they’re participants who chose to share something they’re passionate about. If there’s someone you’d love to hear from, the best way is to encourage them to come and present themselves. We only invite a small proportion of presenters at Festival and work hard to include a diverse range of speakers, topics, and formats.
Shabbat sessions don’t use electricity, instruments, or writing materials, in keeping with halacha. Services are organised by participants and offer something for Jews from different denominations. The Progressive services do use technology and instruments during Shabbat.
Yes — Young & Teen Limmud runs its own programme alongside the main schedule, and there’s dedicated Families content each day too.
Reserved seating is available at the front and back of every session room for anyone who needs it. Some sessions also carry access-related keywords in the Guidebook app so you know what to expect in advance.