BBC x WOW

When the world went into lockdown in 2020, WOW and BBC Arts joined forces to create something bold, joyful and necessary: a virtual WOW Festival beamed straight into people’s homes.

WOW x BBC brought together powerful speakers, artists and thinkers for a weekend of ideas, resilience and solidarity – reimagining what a global feminist festival could be in a digital world. Audiences took part in live yoga, joined the Great Big WOW Quiz, heard about forgotten women from history, and explored urgent issues in Views on the News and WOW Big Ideas.

Speakers included Sandi Toksvig, Maxine Peake, Emma Dabiri, Liz Carr, Rebecca Solnit, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi and more – all sharing insight, laughter and courage during an unprecedented global moment.

The event also featured Jude Kelly in conversation with rising voices and established changemakers, reminding us that feminist dialogue must continue, even – and especially – in times of crisis.

WOW x BBC proved that connection, creativity and community are possible across time zones and living rooms. It also laid the groundwork for future digital events, helping WOW reach thousands of new participants around the world.