National Review’s 2026 regional event series will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth. The American conservative movement exists to conserve these principles—and National Review has been at the forefront of that movement since its inception.
As we look toward the country’s future, it is essential to continue advocating the principles that sustain a free and prosperous society and promoting civic education.
In 2026, we are hosting seven events in major cities across the country, each focusing on a distinct theme to explore these enduring ideas and their continued importance to America’s future and prosperity.
Registration is open for our next two events of this series:
American Leadership & National Security
Newport Beach, California
June 29, 2026
The Founders grappled with how their nascent nation should engage with the world in the aftermath of the American Revolution. George Washington warned against entangling foreign alliances at a time when the United States was militarily weak, Europe was consumed by great-power conflict, and permanent alliances posed existential risks shaped by centuries of war. By contrast, the post–World War II order—anchored by strong alliances and the moral confidence of Western civilization—helped secure peace, expand prosperity, and restrain tyranny across much of the world. This program will examine why sustained American leadership and robust alliances remain essential not only to U.S. interests but to the preservation of freedom and human dignity worldwide.
Featured Speakers:
H.R. McMaster, Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Seth Cropsey, Yorktown Institute
Lisa Daftari, The Foreign Desk
Jim Geraghty, National Review
Michael Lucci, State Armor
Noah Rothman, National Review
Thérèse Shaheen, US Asia International
Will Swaim, California Policy Center
Constitutional Government
Washington, D.C.
July 23, 2026
America’s civil society rests on a just and stable understanding of law and order. A free society depends on the equal application of the law, with individuals and institutions alike held to consistent and impartial standards. The rule of law—grounded in fairness, decency, and respect for constitutional limits—is essential to preserving liberty and public trust. This program will feature legal scholars and public voices who value originalism and who defend the integrity of the judiciary as a coequal and indispensable branch of government.
Featured Speakers:
John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General
Paul Clement, former U.S. Solicitor General
Jeff Sessions, former U.S. Attorney General
James Rosen, Newsmax
Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review
Philip Klein, National Review
Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review
In the coming days, we will be announcing additional seminar dates along with their themes, locations, and speaker lineups. Stay tuned!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Bronze Sponsors
Apricity Foundation
Mr. John Dalshiem
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Edelman and Susan Edelman
Florida State University Institute for Governance & Civics
HEYCO Energy Group
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Raymond
Mrs. Catherine Barr Windels
Silver Sponsors
Mr. James Bayless
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brakey
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Brott
Mr. Craig Fox and Mrs. Angel Fox
Mr. Brett Young
Platinum Sponsors
The Peter and Judy Copses Foundation
Sponsorship Opportunities
Bronze Sponsor – $5,000
Silver Sponsor – $15,000
Gold Sponsor – $25,000
Platinum Sponsor – $50,000
In Case You Missed It
Individual Liberty
New York, New York
March 31, 2026
Our program explored how America’s Founders built a system to secure natural rights and protect essential freedoms—enshrined in the Constitution and the First Amendment—and why free expression, religious liberty, and the right to assemble remain the core safeguards of a free society.
Featured Speakers:
Seth Dillon, The Babylon Bee
Caroline Downey, National Review
Shabbos Kestenbaum
Rich Lowry, National Review
Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review
Dan McLaughlin, National Review
Jonathan Turley, Author and Legal Scholar
Kristen Waggoner, Alliance Defending Freedom
Limited Government
Miami, Florida
April 17, 2026
James Madison warned in Federalist No. 51 that because men were not angels, government had to be structured both to govern and restrain itself. The Founders believed liberty preceded the state, and that government existed not to grant rights but to secure them through limits on power. Through separation of powers, federalism, and constitutional boundaries, they aimed to prevent concentrated authority that led to tyranny. Today, these principles appeared increasingly at risk. This program examined why limited government remained essential to protecting freedom in modern America.
Featured Speakers:
Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and education reform leader
Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review
Daniel Hannan, member of the U.K. House of Lords
Jim Geraghty, National Review
César Grajales, Red Latina Network Foundation
Vahaken Mouradian, National Review
Ryan Owens, Florida State University Institute for Governance & Civics
Timothy Sandefur, Goldwater Institute
John Yoo, UC Berkeley School of Law
Economic Freedom
Dallas, Texas
May 28, 2026
America’s founders held that economic freedom is inseparable from political liberty and essential to human flourishing. Drawing on the insights of thinkers such as Adam Smith, they rejected state control and mercantilism in favor of private property, voluntary exchange, and free enterprise. The Constitution reflects this conviction by limiting the government’s power to tax, regulate, and redistribute, thereby safeguarding economic liberty as a moral and practical necessity. This program will reaffirm the reasons why free markets and limited government remain the surest foundation for opportunity, innovation, and human flourishing.
Featured Speakers:
David Bahnsen, The Bahnsen Group
Phil Gramm, author, economist, and former U.S. senator
Jeb Hensarling, former U.S. congressman
Rich Lowry, National Review
Dominic Pino, Washington Post
Karl Rove, Republican political strategist
Samuel Gregg, American Institute for Economic Research
Andrew Stuttaford, National Review’s Capital Matters