In conversation with eight leaders in education and entertainment

by Kate Dimbleby | October 2026

Good conversations have a habit of staying with you long after they’ve finished.

This is how I’ve felt ever since our roundtable in London in June, with eight leaders who shape how people learn, from head teachers and digital educators to broadcasters, health communicators and museum educators. The depth of expertise and passion in the room was incredible, and I left energised by the insights that emerged.

Whether in the classroom, the museum gallery or on screen, some standout observations kept coming up. As technology and audience behaviour have changed radically in recent years, learner expectations have shifted with them, fuelling the seemingly unstoppable rise of “edutainment.” It’s a slightly Marmite word, but it captures a blend of education and entertainment that does more to shift the dial for learners. To make them sit forward and really engage.

While our report delves into the finer details, I wanted to highlight a few moments that stayed with me:

You can’t teach someone who isn’t there. Would the learner show up if the training isn’t enforced or mandatory? That’s the mark of a truly successful learning experience. Humour, intrigue and interactivity can make the journey more enjoyable, leading to more successful outcomes.

Humans learn through modelling behavior. Every parent knows that children will copy what you do, not what you say – and in most cases, this applies to adults too. Translating this concept into learning means bringing in real stories and lived experiences with a clear human perspective.

Audience agency should be built in. Personalisation has long been the name of the game in learning, but it’s often added retrospectively as a nice-to-have. This can no longer be the case! This is especially key in discussions around accessibility and neurodiversity, where individuals can experience content designed with their specific needs in mind.

Charting the future of any sector can be fraught with challenges, but that conversation truly helped to open perspectives to new opportunities.

If you’re interested, delve into the finer details in our Future of Edutainment report here.