MOTH Festival of Ideas 2026 — More-Than-Human Rights

TL;DR — An interdisciplinary festival exploring philosophical, legal, and cultural frameworks around more-than-human rights, anchored by Cosmo Sheldrake's soundworld meditation on May 15.

Why it Matters — This is philosophy in its most contemporary, culturally alive form. Rather than abstract academic discourse, MOTH brings together philosophers, Indigenous thinkers, marine biologists, artists, and environmental lawyers to interrogate the concept of rights beyond the human. The festival challenges the anthropocentric foundations of Western philosophy itself. Cosmo Sheldrake's concert—a field recordist and composer working at the intersection of sound, ecology, and consciousness—transforms the discussion into a sensory, embodied experience. This is where serious philosophical inquiry meets cultural production.

Where and When - Festival dates: May 14–16, 2026 - Cosmo Sheldrake Concert: Friday, May 15, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM - Location: St John's Church, Waterloo, London - Tickets: Available via Eventbrite (MOTH Festival of Ideas 2026) - Format: The morning sessions (May 14–16) comprise a closed-door, interactive academic conference; public evening events feature talks, panels, and performances

Access Notes: The public evening events are more accessible than the closed conference. Sheldrake's performance is the flagship public event. Book early—this attracts a cultured, niche audience aware of the intersection of philosophy and sound ecology. The festival is presented by NYU Center for Human Rights and Global Justice but operates with genuine intellectual independence.

Speakers/Featured: David Gruber (marine biologist, Project CETI founder), Andrew C. Revkin (environmental journalist), Merlin Sheldrake (Cosmo's brother, biologist and author), plus Indigenous scholars and artists.

Alignment: Authentic philosophical inquiry merged with artistic practice. Niche, intellectually serious, anti-mainstream.