Really great talk on game narratives and non-linearity. Felt my brain grow. Appreciated the format being collaborative with the audience, rather than a lecture.
Anonymised participant feedback
25 June 2026
Festival of Storytelling explores creativity, connection and the future
The Festival of Storytelling, hosted by the Digital Futures Institute at King’s, brought together a vibrant programme of 23 free events across three days (2–4 June), celebrating the power of storytelling to communicate ideas, research and creativity.
Designed for a broad audience, including students, staff, creatives, writers, and members of the public, the festival showcased how storytelling shapes our understanding of the world and our ability to imagine the future.
A diverse programme of events
The Festival’s programme featured a wide-ranging mix of workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions and live performances, offering something for both experienced storytellers and those new to the craft.
Participants engaged in hands-on writing sessions and creative workshops, including collaborative activities such as zine-making.
Expert-led masterclasses provided insight into professional practice, with speakers from fields including publishing, journalism and digital media sharing their experiences.
An enthralling talk about where journalism is now and what role it can have in its own future.
Anonymised participant feedback
Thank you for hosting today's talk with Sarah Perry. That was one of the most refreshing and engaging talks I've been to in many years.
Anonymised participant feedback
So informative and interesting! Thank you.
Anonymised participant feedback
Great workshop. I hope to collaborate with someone and write a story together.
Anonymised participant feedback
‘Technology has taken out so much of the human interaction’
The festival closed with a keynote from journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed, titled Analogue Tech: Our Storytelling Saviour or Nostalgic Retreat? which explored the relationship between analogue and digital technologies in shaping storytelling, memory and human connection.
While acknowledging the benefits of new technologies, Samira Ahmed highlighted concerns about the loss of face-to-face interaction, the fragility of digital archives, and the growing impact of constant connectivity on attention and engagement.
All the stories, all the encounters, all the serendipitous meet-cutes… are all, I think, under threat.
Samira Ahmed, journalist, writer and broadcaster
Ahmed emphasised the enduring value of physical media such as books, records and personal archives, arguing that they foster deeper emotional connections and more meaningful memories than purely digital formats. She also pointed to growing interest among younger audiences in analogue formats as evidence of a cultural shift.
Analogue will live because it makes us happier.
Samira Ahmed, journalist, writer and broadcaster
Her keynote called for a balanced approach: retaining the strengths of analogue forms while using digital tools thoughtfully.
Keeping the old and working with new, but being selective about what works for you.
Samira Ahmed, journalist, writer and broadcaster
Bringing disciplines together
A central theme of the Festival was interdisciplinary collaboration, with events designed to connect King’s researchers with leading writers, broadcasters and creatives.
Through a partnership with the Arthur C. Clarke Award, participants were invited to explore how storytelling can help us understand the present and imagine new futures.
At King’s, our teaching and our research are all about creating better futures and, as Arthur C Clarke himself said, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” This festival has shown us how to think about what we do and to craft our stories, and that, in turn, opens up new possibilities.
Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director, Digital Futures Institute
The collaboration celebrated the legacy of Sir Arthur C. Clarke, a King’s alumnus (Mathematics and Physics, 1948) and one of the most influential science fiction writers of the 20th century.
The shortlist for the 40th anniversary Arthur C. Clarke Award for Science Fiction Book of the Year was announced as part of the Festival of Storytelling. Find out more here.
In this story
Senior Vice President (Academic)
Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts & Humanities
Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society
Professor of Computer Science
Specialist Marketing & Engagement Manager