David Wengrow to speak at HowTheLightGetsIn Festival 2026

He will deliver a solo talk and take part in the panel debate In Search of Place and Purpose with philosopher James Orr and Baroness Thangam Debbonaire. Their discussion will explore the proposition that today’s world no longer provides a sense of place or purpose, and what the political answers might be. 

David is co-author of The Dawn of Everything, a book that re-examines the origins of inequality, democracy, and social organisation, drawing on archaeological evidence from early cities, art, and political structures. At the festival, he will bring this perspective into conversation with contemporary debates about social hierarchy, freedom, and belonging, connecting past patterns to questions relevant in the modern world. 

The HowTheLightGetsIn Festival is Europe’s largest philosophy and music festival, featuring debates, talks, and performances across a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, politics, science, and the arts. David’s sessions offer a chance for festival audiences to engage with archaeological research and its implications for understanding society and human behaviour.