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Photos: José Andrés, Celeste Ng, David Cross and more at The 2026 WBUR Festival

The second-annual WBUR Festival was a hoot, filled with thought-provoking discussions and delightful moments. See scenes from the lively conversations, performances and fun hangs below.

Chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés speaks with NPR reporter and host Sam Sanders at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés speaks with NPR reporter and host Sam Sanders at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
A festival-goer tosses a ping pong ball into a plastic cup at The WBUR Festival street fair. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
A festival-goer tosses a ping pong ball into a plastic cup at The WBUR Festival street fair. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Comedian and actor David Cross speaks at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Comedian and actor David Cross speaks at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Attendees take a pedi-cab ride down Commonwealth Avenue in Boston to get to sessions at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Author Celeste Ng speaks with Here & Now host Robin Young at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Author Celeste Ng speaks with Here & Now host Robin Young at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
WBUR's Candice Springer, left, and WBUR's Ally Jarmanning draw laughs from the crowd during "The Game Show" at the second-annual WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
WBUR's Candice Springer, left, and WBUR's Ally Jarmanning draw laughs from the crowd during "The Game Show" at the second-annual WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Audience members applaud at a session at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Audience members applaud at a session at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Rahm Emanuel speaks with The Atlantic's Evan Smith at The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Rahm Emanuel speaks with The Atlantic's Evan Smith at The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Festival attendees check in at The WBUR Festival Hub in Boston on May 30. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Festival attendees check in at The WBUR Festival Hub in Boston on May 30. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
The WBUR Festival featured live screen printing of tote bags and posters with a design made by local artist local artist James Weinberg.(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Dropkick Murphys Ken Casey speaks with Here & Now host Robin Young about pro-democracy advocacy at The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Dropkick Murphys Ken Casey speaks with Here & Now host Robin Young about pro-democracy advocacy at The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
WBUR CEO Margaret Low opens a session at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
WBUR CEO Margaret Low opens a session at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Audience members enjoy a session at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Audience members enjoy a session at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Festival attendees learn line dancing steps from instructors with the local group Line Dancing Queens on May 30. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Festival attendees learn line dancing steps from instructors with the local group Line Dancing Queens on May 30. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton sat down for a foreign policy discussion and interview with Meghna Chakrabarti, host of WBUR's "On Point."(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Massachusetts singer-songwriter Kimaya Diggs performs during The WBUR Festival on May 30. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Massachusetts singer-songwriter Kimaya Diggs performs during The WBUR Festival on May 30. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Festival attendees check in at The WBUR Festival Hub in Boston on May 30. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Festival attendees check in at The WBUR Festival Hub in Boston on May 30. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
The color-by-numbers WBUR Festival mural created by Bullseye Mural Company. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
The color-by-numbers WBUR Festival mural created by Bullseye Mural Company. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
WBUR's Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing laughs with festival attendees on May 29 in WBUR's CitySpace. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
WBUR's Morning Edition host Tiziana Dearing laughs with festival attendees on May 29 in WBUR's CitySpace. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
NPR CEO Katherine Maher spoke to a live audience at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
(Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Creator of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad speaks with NPR's Sam Sanders about the "art of sonic storytelling" at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Creator of "Radiolab" Jad Abumrad speaks with NPR's Sam Sanders about the "art of sonic storytelling" at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
A volunteer walks down Commonwealth Avenue during The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
A volunteer walks down Commonwealth Avenue during The WBUR Festival in Boston on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
(Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group For WBUR)
(Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group For WBUR)
Lindy West talked about her new memoir "Adult Braces: Driving Myself Insane" at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group For WBUR)
(Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group For WBUR)
"Is Business Broken?" podcast host Curt Nickisch speaks with Kendalle Burlin O'Connell, CEO of MassBio, Elizabeth Jurinka, director at Vistria PRG and Boston University President Melissa Gilliam at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
"Is Business Broken?" podcast host Curt Nickisch speaks with Kendalle Burlin O'Connell, CEO of MassBio, Elizabeth Jurinka, director at Vistria PRG and Boston University President Melissa Gilliam at the WBUR Festival in Boston. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Audience members applaud during a session at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Audience members applaud during a session at The WBUR Festival on May 29. (Nick Grace/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Festival-goers pick up swag from a table at the Hub. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Festival-goers pick up swag from a table at the Hub. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Attendees of The WBUR Festival leave notes of affection for WBUR on a poster board. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
Attendees of The WBUR Festival leave notes of affection for WBUR on a poster board. (Rachel O’Driscoll/Bolt Creative Group for WBUR)
The WBUR Festival

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Jesse Costa is the multimedia producer for WBUR.

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Robin Lubbock Videographer, Photographer

Robin Lubbock is a videographer and photographer for WBUR.

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