Global Festival 2026

The University of Exeter Business School is hosting its Global Festival on Monday 9 November, from 17:30 to 20:30. It's the fourth annual running of the event, which the school describes as a celebration of its cultural diversity, bringing together staff and students from around the world with food, performances and workshops. It's also aimed as a way for new arrivals to meet the community.

The evening mixes Diwali activities—henna, paint-your-own Diya and mandala drawing—with student society performances, a karaoke booth, soap making, tea tasting and a Ukrainian language taster session. You can drift between the different stalls and performances at your own pace, so there's plenty to do even if you're only there for part of the night.

Giving the evening its focal point is the keynote speaker, Professor John Amaechi OBE. He's an organisational psychologist and Professor of Leadership at the Business School, and founder of APS Intelligence Ltd. He's also the first British person to play professional basketball in the NBA, and he completed his graduate training in psychology while playing in the league. Since then, he's advised FTSE 100 boards and written three leadership books, including the Sunday Times bestseller The Promises of Giants.

It's a long evening with a lot to get through, so if you're planning to catch the keynote, keep an eye on the timing. The Global Festival runs from 17:30 to 20:30 on Monday 9 November at the University of Exeter Business School.