David Olusoga with Symeon Brown and Charlotte Higgins

Chew over the biggest news stories of 2026 in our review of the year, led by writer and historian David Olusoga. Revisit the good, the bad and the I-forgot-that-happened moments of the year, as our panel of cultural commentators bring personal perspectives and first-hand experiences of the stories that defined 2026.

David will be joined by Channel 4 home affairs correspondent Symeon Brown and The Guardian’s chief culture writer Charlotte Higgins. They’ll traverse the Strait of Hormuz, tackle heatwaves and wildfires, examine advances in AI and World Cup outrage, and pick out the political moments that defined 2026, from Andy Burnham to Count Binface.

The perfect way to begin your Sunday at Hay Festival Winter Weekend.