WOW Cambridge

WOW Cambridge brought the WOW ethos of optimism and determination to one of the world’s oldest university cities, taking place in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The festival created a vital space for public engagement with gender equality in a city known for both academic tradition and the birth of new ideas.

The first edition in 2014, held in partnership with the Cambridge Festival of Ideas, took place at Cambridge Junction. The one-day event included lively discussions on the “pinkification” of childhood, cyberbullying, media representation, workplace wellbeing, and the gendering of toys and featured speakers including Caroline Criado-Perez. 

In 2015, WOW Cambridge returned to Cambridge Junction on 8 March, marking International Women’s Day with an expanded programme of talks, workshops, and poetry, in partnership with Cambridge University. A week of fringe events ran from 3–13 March across the city. The Festival included a Drag King Workshop, a panel on Making Waves featuring feminist trailblazers, and a performance by acclaimed poet Hollie McNish.

By 2016, WOW Cambridge had grown significantly. Held from 1–5 March, the festival hosted events throughout the city, with a main day of programming once again at Cambridge Junction. Sessions explored topics such as Women in Politics, Let Girls Learn, and Women in the Criminal Justice System, while workshops tackled practical topics like self-defence, public speaking and leadership.

WOW Cambridge offered an opportunity for students, locals, campaigners and creatives to come together in shared dialogue. It highlighted the need for intergenerational spaces of learning and connection, and demonstrated the power of university cities to generate transformative conversations on gender equality.