Your ultimate guide to Being Human Festival 2026
From Dundee’s rich history and world-famous comics to video games, literature and filmmaking, a major cultural festival is bringing a packed programme of free events to the city this November.
The Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, returns from 5 to 14 November 2026, with the University of Dundee and Abertay University joining forces to deliver a series of fascinating events celebrating Dundee’s culture and creative industries.
This year’s Dundee programme, titled Storytelling at the Crossroads - Dundee’s History and Culture, explores how stories are brought to life through comics, literature, gaming, film and performance.
With interactive workshops, historical walking tours, exhibitions and talks taking place across the city, there will be plenty of opportunities to discover something new about Dundee.
And the best part? Every event is free to attend!
Here’s Dundee Culture’s ultimate guide to what’s happening:
Gulliver@300 Exhibition
Thursday 5 to Saturday 14 November | Dundee Central Library, Wellgate Centre
Celebrating 300 years since the publication of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, this exhibition showcases artwork created by illustration students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
Students have reimagined the famous novel through their own creative interpretations, producing artwork inspired by its extraordinary characters, journeys and themes.
The exhibition takes place in the Level 2 exhibition space at Dundee Central Library throughout the festival.
Admission: Free, no booking required.
Find out more here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/gulliver300-exhibition
Comics and Games
Friday 6 November | 6pm - 8pm | Water’s Edge, City Quay
Dundee has made its mark on the world through both comics and video games, but how closely connected are these two creative industries?
This illustrated talk and Q&A will explore the relationship between storytelling and play, examining the links between comics and gaming and how both industries continue to influence one another.
The event will also feature the launch of a free comic exploring these connections, bringing together researchers and creative talent from the University of Dundee and Abertay University.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/comics-and-games
Making Comics
Saturday 7 November | 2pm - 4pm | The Little Theatre, Victoria Road
Young creatives aged 8 to 14 are invited to discover how to bring their stories to life through comic strips.
Led by University of Dundee PhD student Jinglin Shi and Comics Youth, this interactive workshop will encourage participants to explore stories inspired by Dundee’s history, people and culture.
Children will create their own comic strips, with the opportunity for selected artwork to feature in a future edition of Dundee Tales, due to be published in 2027.
All drawing materials will be supplied.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/making-comics
Dundee Tales
Saturday 7 November | 4pm - 5pm | The Little Theatre, Victoria Road
From dragons and polar bears to Desperate Dan and the city’s industrial past, Dundee has no shortage of extraordinary stories.
This illustrated talk will take audiences on a journey through the city’s fascinating history, exploring the people, places and events that have helped shape Dundee.
Professor Christopher Murray and Professor Daniel Cook from the University of Dundee will also unveil a brand-new comic, Dundee Tales, celebrating the city’s remarkable heritage.
Visitors will have the chance to meet the artists behind the comic, ask questions and share their own favourite stories about Dundee.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/dundee-tales
Mary Shelley’s Dundee
Saturday 7 November | 5pm - 6pm | The Little Theatre, Victoria Road
Did you know that Dundee helped inspire one of the most famous horror stories ever written?
Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, spent part of her childhood in Dundee, with her experiences in the city helping shape her imagination.
This special event explores Shelley’s connections to Dundee and the influence the city had on her remarkable literary career.
Visitors will also witness the launch of a new website dedicated to Mary Shelley’s Dundee connections, alongside a free comic, Mary Shelley’s Dark Tales.
The event offers a fascinating opportunity to discover how Dundee played a part in the creation of a literary masterpiece.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/mary-shelleys-dundee
Dundee History and Culture Walking Tour
Tuesday 10 November | 1pm - 2pm | Starting at the Lemmings statue, Perth Road
Take a journey through Dundee’s creative history with a guided walking tour exploring the city’s contribution to comics, video games and popular culture.
Beginning at the Lemmings statue on Perth Road, the tour will visit locations connected to the development of Dundee’s internationally recognised creative industries.
Highlights include the former DMA Design offices, the Desperate Dan statue, the historic DC Thomson buildings and several landmarks connected to the city’s comic-book heritage.
The tour will finish at Abertay University’s ViPRE Lab, where participants can enjoy a live demonstration of motion-capture technology.
The route follows ground-level, even surfaces and is suitable for wheelchair users.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/dundee-history-and-culture-walking-tour
Writing for the Screen
Wednesday 11 November | 6pm - 8pm | Water’s Edge, City Quay
Ever wondered how a film script develops into something audiences eventually see on screen?
This interactive event will introduce participants to the world of screenwriting, exploring how writers, directors and production teams collaborate to bring stories to life.
Using examples of shooting scripts, the session will reveal the language and techniques used by screenwriters, alongside the creative decisions involved in filmmaking.
The event is aimed at anyone interested in cinema, storytelling and the creative industries.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/writing-screen
Making Comics Together
Thursday 12 November | 6pm - 8pm | Lost Galaxy Comic Shop, Perth Road
Dundee’s comic-book heritage takes centre stage once again with an evening dedicated to the collaborative process of creating comics.
Hosted at Lost Galaxy Comic Shop, this event will explore how comics can be used for education, research and science communication.
Visitors will meet some of the artists and creators involved in University of Dundee comic projects and learn about the creative process behind their work.
There will also be an opportunity to create a short comic strip of your own.
Admission: Free, advance booking required. Places are limited.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/making-comics-together
Voyages in Swiftworld with the Wyvern Poets
Saturday 14 November | 1pm - 2.30pm | Dundee Central Library
Dundee’s Wyvern Poets will help celebrate the 300th anniversary of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels with a special afternoon of poetry and storytelling.
The group will share readings from their latest booklet, Voyages in Swiftworld, exploring how Swift’s writing continues to inspire new creative work centuries after its publication.
Visitors can also enjoy discussions about the creative process, an audience Q&A and an open-mic opportunity for aspiring poets.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/voyages-swiftworld-wyvern-poets
Gulliver@300: A Public Roundtable
Saturday 14 November | 2.30pm - 4pm | Dundee Central Library
The festival will conclude with a special roundtable discussion celebrating the artistic legacy of Gulliver’s Travels.
Artists from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design will discuss their contributions to the Gulliver@300 exhibition, explaining how they approached Jonathan Swift’s famous novel through illustration.
Visitors will have the opportunity to hear about the creative techniques, inspiration and ideas behind the exhibition, followed by a public Q&A.
Admission: Free, advance booking required.
Find out more and book here: https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/gulliver300-a-public-roundtable
Celebrating Dundee’s creative spirit
The Being Human Festival is a nationwide celebration of humanities research, bringing universities, cultural organisations and communities together to explore the stories that shape our lives.
Dundee’s programme celebrates the city’s distinctive creative identity, connecting its historic literary and comic-book traditions with its modern reputation for video games, digital innovation and design.
Across ten events, visitors can discover familiar parts of Dundee from entirely new perspectives, meet researchers and creatives, and take part in activities that bring the city’s stories to life.
Being Human Festival 2026 runs from Thursday 5 to Saturday 14 November. All events are free, although advance booking is required for most activities.
For the complete programme and booking information, visit the official Being Human Festival Dundee page.
