Happiness Week 2026
In 2026, the University of Birmingham celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Baggs Memorial Happiness Lecture, one of the University's longest-running public lecture series. Since 1976, it has welcomed an extraordinary range of speakers, including David Attenborough, Yehudi Menuhin, Benjamin Zephaniah, Bernardine Evaristo, Michael Rosen and Clive Myrie.
50 years of asking one simple question
Founded through a bequest from University alumnus Thomas Baggs, the lecture series was established to explore “Happiness - what it is and how it may be achieved by individuals as well as nations.” Fifty years later, that question remains as relevant as ever.
To mark this milestone, the University is expanding the lecture into Happiness Week 2026: a programme of public events bringing together leading thinkers, researchers, performers, students and the wider community to explore happiness, wellbeing and human flourishing through debate, culture, music, comedy and community engagement.
Featured events
The Baggs Memorial Happiness Lecture 2026
Tim Harford delivers the 2026 Baggs Memorial Happiness Lecture in its 50th Anniversary year.
Monday, 9 November 2026 (18:00 - 19:15) (UK)
Aston Webb Great Hall
The Search for Happiness – In Conversation
Hosted by Kathryn Stanczyszyn – UoB Alum, BBC Presenter & Journalist
Tuesday, 10 November 2026 (18:30 - 20:15) (UK)
The Assembly Room, The Exchange
Ha-ha-Happiness Night
What better way to celebrate 50 years of the Baggs Memorial Happiness Lecture than with an evening of laughter?
Friday, 13 November 2026 (19:00 - 21:00) (UK)
Elgar Concert Hall, Bramall Music Building
Happiness speakers 1976 - 2025
Happiness speakers 1976 - 2025
1970s
1976 Yehudi Menuhin
1977 The Rt Hon. Roy Jenkins
1978 The Rt Hon. Lord Clark
1979 Peter Ustinov
1980s
1980 Sir David Attenborough
1982 The Rt Hon. Shirley Williams
1983 Dr Jonathan Miller
1984 Dr Desmond Morris
1985 Sir Hugh Casson
1986 Rabbi Lionel Blue
1987 Lord St. John of Fawsley
1988 Alan Bennett
1989 Professor Laurie Taylor
1990s
1990 Denis Healey
1991 John Mortimer
1992 William Rushton
1994 Anthony Clare
1995 Maureen Lipman
1996 Sir Roy Strong
1997 Lord Mackay of Clashfern
1998 Richard Wilson
1999 David Lodge
2000's
2000 Sir Trevor McDonald
2001 James Naughtie
2002 Adam Hart-Davis
2004 Professor Lord Robert Winston
2005 Sue Lawley, OBE
2006 Lord (Richard) Layard
2007 Alexander McCall Smith
2008 Andrew Motion
2009 Clive Anderson
2010's
2010 Benjamin Zephaniah
2011 Mr Alastair Campbell
2012 Ms Jung Chang
2013 Mr Gyles Brandreth
2014 Mr Chris Addison
2015 Mr Matthew Parris
2016 Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson
2017 John Lloyd, CBE
2018 Rev’d Richard Coles
2019 Eve Pollard, OBE
2020's
2021 Charles Hazlewood
2022 Bernadine Evaristo
2023 Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE
2024 Michael Rosen
2025 Clive Myrie