A showcase in East Anglia for creative leaders in literature, media, art, environment and music
14-15 June 2025, Hedingham Castle
EA Festival Sponsor
Founded in 2015, Bishop & Miller is one of the fastest-growing auction houses in the East of England and has locations in Stowmarket and Holt. Its main focus is specialist and themed auctions of carefully vetted objects and collectibles.
2025 Forthcoming Events
20 March | Food First: A Society Built Around Food - Carolyn Steel & Josiah Meldrum in conversation | Food Museum | Stowmarket, Suffolk
22 March | A Little Art Education - Lynn Barber | Gainsborough's House | Sudbury, Suffolk
16 April | Leigh Bowery: A Life Without Limits | Tate Modern | London
25 April | The Picnic Papers - Anne Glenconner | The Jockey Club Rooms | Newmarket, Suffolk
29 April | Helen Browning: Farming Icon & Soil Advocate | Food Museum | Stowmarket, Suffolk
14 May | William T. Taylor: Hoof Beats | The Jockey Club Rooms | Newmarket, Suffolk
20 May | James Birch - Gilbert & George and the Communists | The Minories | Colchester, Essex
14 - 15 June | EA Festival | Hedingham Castle | Castle Hedingham, Essex | EARLY BIRD tickets available until 15 April
“EA Festival was the most magical weekend I can ever remember, for so many, many reasons - and I suspect life-changing for a significant number of people.”
— John Lloyd, EA Festival 2021 speaker & creator of Black Adder, Spitting Image and QI
EA Festival 2025 Speakers
Jonathan Sumption, Fuchsia Dunlop, Venki Ramakrishnan, Chloe Dalton, James Canton, Richard Mabey, Ben Lewis, Rebecca Willis, Aaron Reeves, Sam Friedman, Susie Alegre, Catherine Nixey & Luke Wright
DISCOVERY & ENCHANTMENT AT HEDINGHAM CASTLE
The 2025 Festival will be held on the grounds of Hedingham Castle, one of the most beautiful and historic destinations in East Anglia, conveniently located on the border of Essex and Suffolk (and a 90-minute drive from London) in the charming village of Castle Hedingham.
MORE KUDOS FOR EA FESTIVAL
It was the most memorable and uplifting day imaginable. The setting was magical, the weather perfect and, above all, the speakers were terrific.
-- Polly C.
I wanted to say how brilliant it has been for me to watch the whole festival live streamed as I was not able to attend in person. Food for the soul and the beginning of something very special. Go EA!
-- Claudia G.
I think EA Festival will transform the cultural life of this part of the country.
-- Will D.
Congratulations on a triumph of a weekend. I look forward to hearing about the festival going from strength to strength, taking its place among other major art and culture festivals of the UK.
-- Dr. Gavin Francis, EA Festival 2021 speaker
How it started
Instead of sitting around, feeling helpless and gloomy during lockdown, I thought, why not parlay adversity into opportunity and give the community where we live a shot in the arm by creating something they can look forward to - this year - and beyond.
By bringing together world-class leaders in performing arts, literature, poetry, moving image and the visual arts, my aim was not only to entertain and stimulate but to foster the creative eco-system in the region. Thus, many of the performers and speakers in the 2021 Festival hailed from Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
— Joanne Ooi, EA Festival Founder