Goalhanger: The Rest Is Fest will be a major live festival uniting global podcast voices at the Southbank Centre in 2026, celebrating the stories shaping our world.
Set across the arts centre’s site, the collaboration forms a centrepiece of the Southbank Centre’s seventy fifth anniversary celebrations and draws inspiration from the optimism and ambition of the 1951 Festival of Britain.
The weekend-long programme spans the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and additional spaces. The schedule will include conversations, large scale live shows and special one-off events featuring renowned presenters, thinkers and cultural figures.
A core theme looks to the future, with Goalhanger’s biggest podcasts examining the forces influencing tomorrow’s democracy, politics, money, media, science, entertainment and sport.
Highlights include the first ever live edition of The Rest Is Football on 4 September, with Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards appearing on the Royal Festival Hall stage.
The Rest Is Money, hosted by Robert Peston and Steph McGovern, will also make its live debut on the same day with a major guest still to be announced.
The Rest Is History will take over the site on 5 September to explore some of the most extraordinary stories from the past, while The Rest Is Politics with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart will appear on 6 September to discuss how AI-driven disinformation and populism are reshaping public debate.
Further special collaborations and surprises will be confirmed soon.
Gary Lineker says: “The Southbank Centre was created in 1951 to make the arts and culture more accessible to all, and that’s a mission we can really get behind.
“From the Festival of Britain until now, the Southbank Centre has been the beating heart of London’s cultural life, and we’re excited to respond to this major milestone with a festival of ideas across their iconic site.”
The Rest Is Entertainment co-host, Marina Hyde says: “I absolutely love the Southbank Centre and can’t wait to be part of its seventy fifth anniversary celebrations.
“Not only will there be some special Rest Is Entertainment live shows, but we’ll also be crossing the streams with other Goalhanger shows, a wild experiment that could be a huge laugh or possibly give two of us mutant superpowers.”
Southbank Centre Artistic Director Mark Ball adds: “In a fast-paced world of rising misinformation, it’s now more important than ever that the Southbank Centre provides a trusted space for open discussion and debate. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Goalhanger on this seismic takeover.”
Tickets go on sale to Goalhanger and Southbank Centre Members on 4 December at 10am and to the general public on 11 December at 10am via the Southbank Centre website.
