Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) is inviting curious minds to step into the world of the Renaissance with Renaissance: Journeys of Discovery, a rich programme of talks running from January to June 2026.
Perfect for parents keen to stretch their thinking in the new year, the series explores how a cultural movement that began centuries ago still shapes the world we live in today. From art and architecture to science, politics and storytelling, the programme promises fresh perspectives and plenty of inspiration.
If you loved Hamnet, are fascinated by Michelangelo or simply enjoy learning something new, this wide-ranging talks series has something to spark your interest. Big names and ideas from the period include Shakespeare, Brunelleschi, Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Luther, Cervantes, Chaucer and Machiavelli.
All talks take place live at BRLSI’s home at 16 Queen Square, with the option to livestream from home, making it easy to fit learning around busy family life.
Upcoming talks include how Renaissance influences shaped buildings, The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale, Utopia: A Voyage of Discovery, The Birth of News, Elizabethan gardens and the art of courtship, how the Renaissance came to Bath and Shakespeare, Bath and the Plague. Other sessions explore Renaissance science, maps, celebrity culture and key figures such as Johannes Kepler, as well as the making of Cervantes’ Don Quijote.
For anyone feeling unsure about where to begin, the series offers a clear and accessible overview of the Renaissance, spanning 1350 to 1650. It also looks beyond Florence, exploring the idea of multiple ‘Renaissances’ and the global influences that helped shape the period, including ideas brought west after the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Later in the programme, philosopher John Gray will examine the lasting impact of Renaissance thinking, as speakers continue to unpack an era that still resonates today.
Tickets are £4 for BRLSI members and £8 for non-members. Whether you attend in person or tune in from the sofa, it’s a flexible and affordable way to enjoy some serious culture in 2026.
Find out more and book tickets at www.brlsi.org/renaissance/.
