Global Festival 2026

What is the Global Festival?

The Global Festival is a celebration of our cultural diversity, with a host of activities and events on offer to students and colleagues.

Everyone is welcome – it's a fantastic opportunity to make new connections, have some fun with colleagues and friends, learn more about our incredible support services and share your own experiences and culture. We are lucky to have colleagues and students from a huge range of communities, cultures, and countries, and we are excited to celebrate this rich cultural diversity at the festival.

For those recently joining our community, staff and students will be on hand to answer any questions you may have in your first few weeks of arriving at Exeter. And for everyone returning to campus, it’s a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues and have some fun.

Keynote Speaker – Professor John Amaechi OBE

John Amaechi OBE is an organisational psychologist, Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, and founder of APS Intelligence Ltd. He completed his graduate training in psychology while playing professional basketball in the NBA, becoming in the process the first British person to reach that level of the sport.

For sixteen years he has advised FTSE 100 boards and senior leadership teams across Europe, APAC and the Americas, and his work is grounded in behavioural science applied inside some of the world’s most complex organisations.

He is the author of three books on leadership, including the Sunday Times bestseller The Promises of Giants and It’s Not Magic: The Ordinary Skills of Exceptional Leaders, and holds an OBE for services to sport and the voluntary sector.

Programme

The fully Global Festival programme will be published here shortly. In addition to our keynote speaker, we are excited to be hosting:

• Diwali celebrations including a performance by our Hindu Society, a Henna artist and paint-your-own Diya and Mandala drawing workshops;
• More student society performances;
• A Sushi making workshop;
• Language taster sessions;
• Karaoke

There will also be the chance to meet student societies representing a wide range of cultures and academic interests, as well as University teams including the Career Zone, Study Abroad, Global Leaders and  the Business School’s Pastoral Mentors

International Food Market

Attendees can choose one of the following meals, completely free of charge:

Lentil and Spinach Dahl with flatbread and pilau rice (VG) 

West African Jollof: smoky spiced tomato and pepper rice with peri peri tofu (VG) 

Condiment Station

• Lime Pickle
• Yogurt and Mint
• Peri Peri
• Sweetcorn and Dill Slaw

Food is available for the first 300 attendees. To receive your food you will need to register at the entrance of Building One and receive a voucher.

Performances and Competitions

Society performances

We will be joined by some of our societies who will be performing or hosting activities and stalls throughout the evening, including:

• Hindu Society
• Asian Society
• South Asian Society
• Salsa Society
• Ukrainian Society
• Business & Finance Society
• Enactus

Global Festival Passport

Complete your Festival Passport by attending workshops and networking with festival goers and University staff! The first 100 students to complete their passport will win a free Bubble tea. Collect your passport from the Building One Info Point/Entrance.

International Dress Competition

Join our cultural Dress competition on @uofebusiness Instagram! The winners will be awarded either an Amazon voucher or a University of Exeter Hoodie.

Activities

There will be something for everyone: workshops, music, games, food, support stands, and guest speakers. There will also be plenty of opportunities during the festival to speak with senior members of our leadership team. We want to hear what our students think, so get your voice heard and have your say!

We want our whole community to have access to Global Festival. All activities will be family-friendly, so staff and students are welcome to bring their children if childcare would be an issue during the event.

Commitment to Diversity

The University of Exeter values the diversity of its community because it believes this enriches employment, research, studying and learning experiences. The Global Festival celebrates the rich cultural diversity of the staff and students at University of Exeter and brings together a wide variety of societies and networks to do so.   While the University acknowledges that some societies may not represent the personal beliefs of some staff and students, the University is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity and does not segregate societies from each other.  There is no obligation to take part in any activity or visit any stand, however in line with its Value of ‘Community’, the University recognises that all its staff, students, visitors and others associated with the University have a responsibility to ensure that their actions comply with both the requirements and the spirit of its Dignity and Respect policy.

The University of Exeter is an inclusive community, where everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Harassment, bullying, intimidation and discrimination (for example racism, homophobia, sexual discrimination) go against all we stand for and will not be tolerated. If you've experienced or witnessed any of the above we encourage you to report it here and to get the support you might need.

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