HOWTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest philosophy festival, returns this May with a packed programme of debates, solo talks and live music geared around this year’s theme: Errors, Lies and Adventure.

Over 10 days, from May 26 to June 3, there will be 450 events on six stages, including 180 speakers and 150 bands.

With an unashamedly highbrow programme tackling life’s big questions and the latest theories in everything from philosophy and art to science and politics – all set against a backdrop of live music and DJ sets from some of the UK’s most exciting emerging talent – visitor numbers have been tripling each year. Last year’s event brought more than 35,000 visitors to the site.

HowTheLightGetsIn has been described as “a mini Glastonbury” by The Huffington Post and named as one of the best festivals in the UK by the likes of Harper’s Bazaar, CNN Traveller and The Guardian.

In addition to debates with leading figures including Stephen Frears, Ian Blair, Will Hutton, Shirley Williams, A S Byatt, Jim Crace and Terry Pratchett, this year’s music programme includes the likes of Man Like Me, Jeffrey Lewis, Sam Lee, Emily Barker, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Serafina Steer, Phildel, Stealing Sheep, Young Husband, Andrew Weatherall, Deepgroove, Jamie Anderson, Utah Saints, The Boxettes, Nerina Pallot, King Charles, Nick Mulvey and The Correspondents.

Among this year’s debates are The Art of Life, which asks whether it is an error to believe that authentic accounts of human lives are possible. The Prejudice of Intellectuals looks at how we openly discriminate in favour of intelligence. And In the Now looks at embracing the now, the ephemeral and trivial, rather than works of towering ambition.

Also on the programme, Terry Pratchett, A S Byatt and Terry Eagleton explore reality’s edge to discover whether fantasies are central to how we perceive the world.

“There are many names you will recognise in this year’s programme but we are not about celebrity,” says philosopher and founder of the festival, Hilary Lawson.

“The festival creates a space where real human interaction can take place. It sounds easy.

But it’s rare. Our venues are intimate. Our speakers mix with our audience and go to the same parties. We talk, dance, play and bring life to the world of ideas and maybe just a little meaning to our lives in a world that is so often rather emptier than we would like.”

For the full programme, visit howthelightgetsin.org.