The Digital Futures Institute Festival of Storytelling, taking place 2–4 June, is a celebration of how we communicate what we do — and why it matters — through the stories we tell. Across three inspiring days of workshops, masterclasses, panels and performances, the festival explores the craft of powerful communication while showcasing some of the exceptional work happening at King’s.
This event is for anyone who loves ideas, creativity and great stories. We welcome readers and writers of fiction and nonfiction, fans of sci-fi and future thinking, creatives working across art, music, theatre and digital media, and anyone interested in how stories help us make sense of the world around us.
This year, we’re partnering with the Arthur C. Clarke Award to present a dynamic series of events bringing together King’s academics with leading writers, broadcasters and creatives. Together, they’ll explore how storytelling helps us shape our world and imagine possible futures through creativity in all its forms: fiction and non-fiction, science communication, music, art, journalism, film, podcasting, theatre, and more.
The festival opens on the evening of Monday 2 June with a reception at Science Gallery London.
On 3-4 June, events move to the Strand campus, featuring writing sprints, reading sessions, zine-making workshops, film and music performances, lectures, masterclasses with award-winning authors, and panel discussions on everything from writing effectively to getting published.
The festival concludes on the evening of Thursday 4 June with a keynote from journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed, who will speak on the vital role of storytelling in the digital age. The event will coincide with the announcement of the Arthur C. Clarke Award shortlist for 2026.
Sir Arthur C. Clarke, one of the world’s most influential science fiction writers, graduated from King’s in 1948 with a BSc in Mathematics and Physics. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Arthur C. Clarke Award, established in 1986 to honour the best UK-published science fiction novel each year.
All events are free of charge and open to King’s staff and students, as well as the wider public.
The Digital Futures Institute is generously supported by MAIS SpA.
The Digital Futures Institute Festival of Storytelling is organised with support from King's Culture.