In October 2025, WOW - Women of the World is coming to the North East for the very first time. Taking place in partnership with S&DR200, we’ll be packing Gala Durham full of unmissable talks, performances and workshops to celebrate the incredible women, girls and non-binary people of the North East, with speakers including Jill Scott, Emma Dabiri and Ashley James.

On Friday 17 October, our WOW Schools Day will welcome young people from across the region for an inspiring day of talks, interactive sessions and creative workshops designed to spark new ideas and big conversations.

On Saturday 18 October,WOW North Eastopens its doors to people of all ages, for a free festival brimming with energy, ideas, and inspiration. Festival-pass holders will be able to explore everything from politics to pop culture, sex to sport, and activism to art through personal, local stories of resilience and activism, events, performances, panels, headline interviews and workshops. There will also be thought-provoking moments, joy and celebration at every turn with mindfulness painting and radical song-making, surprise poetry pop-ups and music, dance and theatre performances. All sessions in the Main Auditorium will be BSL Interpreted and Live Captioned.

We’ll explore the role women and girls had in the huge leap forward that the railway presented 200 years ago, and how we can make sure that women and girls are at the centre of the next wave of technological advancement – not just in the region, but right around the world.

Plus, don’t miss two exciting evening events: An Evening with Ashley JamesandKeeping Sane(ish) with Athena Kugblenu and Jordan Gray(both BSL Interpreted and Live Captioned). Whether you’re here to listen, learn, connect, or take action, WOW is for everyone, so join us at WOW North East as we make history, honour the past, and shape an equal future together.

WOW North East is presented by S&DR200 and WOW - Women of the World. S&DR200 events are delivered by Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on Tees Borough Council, with support from North East Combined Authority.

With thanks to Hays Travel for supporting WOW North East.