Opening Night

Opening Night 2026

America at 250

Thursday, March 12, 2026
5:00 p.m. | McAlister Auditorium
Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University opens its fifth annual celebration with a powerful keynote evening in partnership with The Atlantic, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

This special opening-night conversation brings together some of the nation’s most influential thinkers and storytellers to examine the American experiment—its ideals, contradictions, and unfinished revolutions—and the role of history, journalism, and storytelling in shaping our democracy.

Featured Participants

  • Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in Chief, The Atlantic (Moderator)

  • Walter Isaacson, bestselling biographer

  • Ken Burns, acclaimed filmmaker and storyteller

  • Clint Smith, The Atlantic staff writer and bestselling author

  • Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian and author

Drawing on work such as Burns’s PBS documentary series The American Revolution and The Atlantic’s ongoing “Unfinished Revolution” reporting project, the conversation will reflect on where the nation has been—and where it may yet go—as America approaches this historic milestone.

Conflicts Shaping the Global Future

Today’s geopolitical landscape is defined by a series of conflicts with far-reaching consequences. What do these flashpoints reveal about the balance of global power, the future of alliances, and America’s role on the world stage? General Stanley McChrystal and George Packer join Jeffrey Goldberg for a wide-ranging conversation about the forces driving today’s most consequential international crises. Drawing on perspectives from military leadership, journalism, and foreign policy analysis, they explore how today’s conflicts may reshape global stability.

Featured Participants:

  • Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor in Chief, The Atlantic (Moderator)

  • Gen. Stanley McChrystal, retired U.S. Army general and leadership expert

  • George Packer, journalist and staff writer, The Atlantic

 

Event Details & Access

  • Location: McAlister Auditorium, Tulane University

  • Seating: First come, first served

  • Registration: Festival registration is encouraged, but no separate registration is required for opening night

  • Overflow: A livestreamed overflow venue will be available if capacity is reached