BREAKING CONVENTION 2025

Breaking Convention 2025 is a three-day event, and will be the seventh edition of Europe's largest conference on psychedelic research, happening 17–19 April 2025.

Returning to the marvellous surroundings of the campus on top of the hills of Exeter, once again delegates from around the world will gather to converse, connect, collaborate, communicate, and confer; as a delegate you can attend hundreds of talks, dozens of discussions, engage with workshops, enjoy a full programme of films, immerse yourself in VR experiences, an art exhibition, performances, interactive art installations, and dance the night away at the Saturday afterparty.

The largest and most diverse conference on psychedelics in Europe, Breaking Convention hosts voices from across the globe, and in 2025 we will be featuring a wider variety of experts from more cultures than ever before.

PHASE 1 LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT

KAT HARRISON - JULIE HOLLAND - ERIK DAVIS - WILLIAM LEONARD PICKARD (IN-PERSON) - LUIS EDUARDO LUNA - TOM O’NEILL - ALEXANDER BEINER -BRUCE DAMER - MATTHEW SEGALL - SIMON RUFFELL -DARREN LE BARON - CELIA MORGAN - PETER SJÖSTEDT-HUGHES -CARA LAVAN - JOHN CONSTABLE - DAVID LUKE - MUSTAPHA KHAN - TEHSEEN NOORANI - NZAMBE DIVANGA - LEONIE SCHNEIDER - AKUA OFOSUHENE -

PHASE 2 LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT

RICK DOBLIN - DASHEEDA DAWSON - NEIL WOODS - DAVID NUTT - CAMILLE BARTON -

JO'REL MCQUEEN - JAMIE WHEAL - SUSAN BLACKMORE - 

PLUS MANY MORE TBA!!

Subjects will be drawn from all fields of academic studies; as well as a large helping of the latest scientific research, there will be sessions investigating the present day and historical social impacts of these intriguing substances, and the ways we interact with them, both as individuals and as collectives.

Since our first conference in 2011, thousands of people have attended Breaking Convention, and the overwhelming response has always been positive, with the most common review being "This changed my life". Come along, see who you find, and what you can learn.

We have four lecture rooms running throughout the conference, as well as a dedicated cinema room (featuring presentations by the filmmakers), and two workshop spaces. Not only will you be able to attend lots of amazing talks over the weekend, but also: expert-led workshops; a visionary art exhibition including live painting; interactive installations; psychedelic cinema; stalls selling psychedelic wares from books to jewellery to clothes and beyond; evening events including book launches; and on Saturday our spectacular afterparty, with live music from renowned DJs.

To get a taste of our past events, check out our YouTube channel: Breaking Convention
For more information about our charity, visit our website at Breaking Convention

TICKETS

Tickets include the following:

• Full access to the 3 days of talks and all other conference events

• One meal per day from a range of catering outlets

• Access to sign up for workshops 

• Visionary Art Exhibition and installations

• Evening entertainments including the Saturday night after party

• Full cinema programme including Q&As with filmmakers

• The BC Welcome Pack with limited edition tote bag including a printed programme

• A hard copy of the biennial BC Collection of Essays

• Stalls area, full of your favourite psychedelic vendors

• the above applies only to Concession, Standard, Benefactor, Institution and Participant/Speaker tickets

This year we have a tiered price system; Concession, Standard, Benefactor and Institution. By purchasing a benefactor ticket you are supporting those who cannot afford a standard price ticket, and we would like to express our huge gratitude to those of you in a position to do this. If you are attending with funding from a university or educational institution you will need to purchase an Institution Ticket. There is an option to pay for your ticket via paypal where you may be able to "pay in 3" instalments. 

There are a limited number of concession tickets, so please only purchase one if you fall into the following categories: Concession groups are here defined as students; blue light service personnel (including police, nurses and NHS staff); and the unwaged. You will be asked to provide documentary proof at the reception desk.

CATERING

You spoke, we listened! Many of our attendees from our 2023 event informed us that there were not enough options for food on campus. So we’ve partnered with the university to ensure there are more outlets open offering fresh, seasonal and local produce. Tickets include one meal per day from one of the university outlets (for concession, general and benefactor ticket holders). There are a range of outlets that will be open for lunch and dinner; The Forum Kitchen, The Ram Bar, The Terrace Kitchen and The Terrace Bar. There will be a café serving hot drinks and pastries open from 9am. Food will be served from 12pm-9pm, with the bars closing at 11pm. Please provide any dietary requirements on our checkout form after purchasing your ticket. Extra food vouchers can be purchased by all attendees and those whose tickets do not include catering.

LOCATION
The University of Exeter is home to the first taught undergraduate psychedelics module in the UK. The campus offers a top-notch conference venue with state-of-the-art lecture theatres, a purpose-built cinema room, superb large spaces for art and performances, and a dedicated area for market stalls. Exeter’s university campus sits comfortably within the city of Exeter, so you can easily catch a bus or even walk to the historic centre.

ACCOMMODATION

The UoE Streatham Campus is on a hilltop very close to the centre of Exeter. The city has many hotels and other accommodation options from budget to luxury, and it's easy to commute each day in a matter of minutes.

There is on-campus accommodation available. These are small double rooms with en suite bathrooms including breakfast, which are a 5 minute walk to where the conference is taking place. They are available for all attendees on a first-come-first-served basis. You will be provided with the link to these rooms once you have purchased your conference ticket.

Holland Hall rooms are not managed by Breaking Convention. If you have a query about a Holland Hall booking, please contact Event Exeter: eventexeteraccommodation@exeter.ac.uk

TRAVEL
We advise you to use public transport to reach the University of Exeter.

Whether you choose planes, trains, automobiles or coaches, Exeter is only 150 miles southwest of London, and can be reached by direct transport links from the capital, as well as from Bristol (which also has an airport).

Discounted Train Fares. The University has a special discounted train fare deal with Great Western Railway. London - Exeter (open return) can be purchased for just £44! You need to book via this link and show proof of your conference ticket purchase when on board. (Note: to show the available trains, put the correct origin station (for example London - Exeter, select “London Paddington PAD”).

Parking is available on-site, see https://www.exeter.ac.uk/visit/directions/carparks/ for charges and other information. (Note: those staying in Holland Hall have a parking permit included in their booking, for the Holland Hall car park area).

Buses run to the campus several times an hour. A map showing the route of the UNI bus service can be found here: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South%20West/ExeterNetwork.pdf The bus stop nearest to the conference is North Park Road, Stop ID: dvngjamt

Walking is an option for the very energetic (though be warned it is rather uphill, so not possible for everyone!).

ACCESSIBILITY
The entire venue is wheelchair accessible, as is the on-site accommodation. Please be aware that the ground does slope between some of the buildings, due to the hilltop location. Lecture theatres have hearing loops installed. The front row of all lecture rooms will be reserved for those requiring seating near to the speakers.
If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us in advance to see how we can assist your attendance.

Our Accessibility Officer Rosalind Roux is on hand to help with your needs in the run up and during the event. Accompanying carers and personal assistants are welcome to attend. Please email us at info@breakingconvention.co.uk to discuss your needs or use the form above.

DONATIONS AND GIFT AID

Breaking Convention is a UK registered charity and relies solely on donations and ticket sales to operate. Each transaction has an optional £12 donation added which can be increased or decreased at your discretion. All donations are gratefully received as a little goes a long way. If you are a UK taxpayer, please tick the Gift Aid option.

REFUND POLICY

If you can no longer attend, we advise you to resell your ticket on Tixel (Ticket Tailor's recommended resale site). To reduce the administrative and financial burden on our very small team, refunds are only given in extremely extenuating circumstances, at our discretion.

APPLICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

Applications for presentations, workshops, art, installations, film, stalls and volunteering are now closed. Applicants will be informed on 28th Feb 2025. Successful applicants will receive a special link to register for a ticket upon acceptance. Please do not purchase a General Admission ticket whilst awaiting our decision, unsuccessful applicants will have a ticket reserved for them to purchase.

EVERYTHING ELSE
If you still have a question, first please read the information above again, carefully! If you still can't find what you're looking for, please get in touch with us at

info@breakingconvention.co.uk

We aim to respond to all enquiries within a few business days.

We at Team BC cannot wait to see faces familiar and fresh at BC2025. As the world moves into this next phase of reimagining itself, gatherings like this can help catalyse our collective creative thinking. This is an important time for the psychedelic current so get your ticket now, don’t miss out on this amazing event!