Festival of Social Science 2026: Money, Finance and the Cost of Living Crisis

This year’s ESRC Festival of Social Science brings research beyond the lecture room, creating opportunities for the public to explore the issues shaping everyday life.

Running from 17 October to 7 November, the Festival features a programme of free public events addressing some of the most pressing questions facing society today. Led by researchers from a range of disciplines and perspectives, the events take ideas and expertise beyond the University and into communities, exploring the impact of the cost of living crisis through activities designed for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

This year’s focus on money, finance and the cost of living examines how financial pressures affect individuals, families and communities, while highlighting how social science can help us understand these challenges and their wider effects.

The Festival’s impact is clear. Last year, 93% of participants said they learned something new, while 58% said the events changed their opinion about something.

Putting money and the cost of living under the spotlight

Through discussions and workshops, participants will learn how financial decisions affect our everyday lives and challenge common assumptions about money.

This year’s theme was praised for its poignancy by Professor Miriam Ronzoni:

The activities will explore topics such as how children understand money and fairness, whether generosity can survive rising costs of living, the hidden costs of bereavement, the impact of the cost of living crisis on reading and education, and learning how research is helping communities navigate economic uncertainty.

These events offer a chance to engage with big issues in accessible, thought-provoking ways, showing exactly how the social sciences can help us make sense of the world around us.

This year's programme

This year's events are inclusive for everyone. Whether you’re a family looking for child-friendly activities over half-term, a professional looking for development opportunities, or simply interested in learning more about the topics, there’s something for you!

Below is an overview of some of the events taking place so far:

• Very Local Maths, 17 October 2026, 10.00 to 15.00

Discover the hidden mathematics behind every day cultural practices, interests, and communities, and learn how numbers influence our daily lives in ways we often don't notice.

• Is Generosity Incompatible with a Rising Cost of Living? 28 October 2026, 10.00 to 15.30

Can people still afford to be generous when money is tight? This interactive event explores giving, fairness and community in an age of economic uncertainty.

• Poetry in the Making: Education in a Cost-of-Living Crisis, 28 October 2026, 10.00 to 15.30

Through poetry and creative expression, explore how financial pressures are shaping educational experiences and share your perspective in an evolving exhibition.

• Your Money Story: How Generations Build (and Lose) Confidence with Money, 28 October 2026, 10.00 to 15.00

A series of activities demonstrating how different generations think about money, where financial confidence comes from, and why attitudes towards spending and saving can vary so widely.

• Everyday Money Mistakes, And How to Avoid Them, 29 October 2026, 18.30 to 19.30

Challenge common assumptions about money and gain practical insights into the financial decisions we make every day.

• Art as Testimony of Prison Experience, 3 November to 5 November 2026, 10.00 to 17.00

Discover how art can communicate experiences of imprisonment, provide powerful personal testimony and encourage new conversations about justice and rehabilitation.

• The Cost of Connection: Chemsex, Money and Gay Male Sexual Sub-Cultures, 3 November 2026, 14.00 to 17.00

A thought-provoking discussion examining the relationship between money, social connection and community experiences within contemporary gay male cultures.

• The Hidden Costs of Dying, 3 November 2026, 10.00 to 12.00

Bereavement can bring significant emotional and financial challenges. This event explores the often-overlooked costs associated with death and the impact they have on families.

• Seeing Yourself in Stories, 4 November 2026, 10.00 to 13.30

When access to reading is already unequal, ensuring the books available are representative is more important than ever. Join this workshop and learn how to create inclusive reading environments.

• Data Stories Manchester, 6 November 2026, 13.00 to 16.00

Discover how data can reveal hidden patterns in everyday life and how researchers use information to better understand communities and social change.

Browse the full Festival programme and book your place at events: https://uom.link/FestivalOfSocialSciences