<em>The Atlantic </em>Announces First Speakers and Programming for the 18th Annual Atlantic Festival, September 17–19, in New York — SkimNews
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- The Atlantic announces the first programming for its 18th annual Atlantic Festival, set for September 17–19, 2026, in New York City, with events centered at the Perelman Performing Arts Center and additional venues across the city
- Juilliard partners with The Atlantic for the festival’s opening-night program, 'A Soundtrack of a Nation,' featuring performers including Nicholas Britell, Michelle Dorrance, and Davóne Tines, led by Juilliard president Damian Woetzel
- Pete Buttigieg, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, will appear in conversation with The Atlantic's editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, as part of the announced lineup
- Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and CEO of Bumble Inc., is confirmed to participate, alongside Texas Representative Chip Roy, Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, and PBS NewsHour co-anchor Amna Nawaz
- Ken Burns, Lynn Novick, and Sam Pollard executive produce the forthcoming PBS documentary series Crime and Punishment, which will be screened at the festival followed by a discussion with Novick and poet Reginald Dwayne Betts
- Genentech is the presenting-level underwriter for the 2026 Atlantic Festival, with Boston Scientific, Contentful, Edward Jones, and TIAA at the supporting level, and Allstate, Calm Health, Hauser & Wirth, and Seabourn Cruise Line contributing
Why it matters: The festival’s high-profile speaker roster and institutional partnerships signal its role as a major forum for political, cultural, and intellectual discourse, with sponsors gaining visibility among influential audiences. The sold-out Premiere Passes indicate strong demand, shaping access around subscriber benefits and tiered pricing.
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