The Big Issue

The Big Issue is one of Britain’s leading news and cultural magazines. Every week’s edition is packed full of original takes on the biggest issues of the day as well as interviews with the most significant figures in politics and entertainment. The Big Issue was founded 1991 to give people experiencing homelessness the opportunity to earn their own income. We continue to support hundreds of vendors across the UK and all proceeds from sales go to help anyone wanting to lift themselves out of poverty.

All hands on deck

THE DISPATCH • News, views & miscellany

The Big Issue

EDITOR’S LETTER

YOUR LETTERS

BIRD’S WORDS

FESTIVAL GUIDE 2025 • Summer is near, so now’s the time to plan when and where to see great music in the great outdoors. Big Issue’s annual festival guide is here to help, with our pick of the unmissable live music playing near you

END OF THE ROAD HOW TO RUN A FESTIVAL • Festivals everywhere are going to the wall, but 20 years on, End Of The Road is thriving. Co-founder Simon Taffe tells us his campfire stories

A NEW FESTIVAL FOR A NEW ERA • Co-director of Homestead Jess Lardner wanted a festival with genuine interaction, hot showers and morning Bloody Marys, so she set it up herself

The Bradford brass band raising their horns in protest

AFTER GLASTONBURY 2023, SHE NEARLY QUIT MUSIC. BUT INSTEAD, ONLINE TROLLS ONLY MADE HER STRONGER

Kneecap, nuance and the prickly issue of controversy

BIG QUESTIONS

JOHNNY VAUGHAN • The former breakfast TV presenter and podcast host wishes he’d gone to university and learned the piano. But his biggest regret is from that one day when all his stars aligned

LOVE ME LIKE YOU LOST ME

Can’t get no satisfaction

Exit music

This is not about charity. This is about culture

‘I HOPE IN THE FUTURE MY FILMS ARE TIME CAPSULES’

LUCY SWEET IS ON THE VERGE

‘A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT ONE DOG, A KIND OF SOUL DOG’ • Niall Harbison is a social media sensation. The hundreds of dogs he cares for and rehomes in Thailand bring joy to millions of followers – including one master fan half the world away

Puzzles

MY PITCH • Co-op, St James’s Street, Brighton Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 10am-2pm