The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University will open its 2026 edition with a high-profile keynote event examining the nation’s past and future as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.
Festival organizers announced that the fifth annual event will begin Thursday, March 12, with an opening night presented in partnership with The Atlantic. The program, themed “America at 250,” will feature a moderated conversation with The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg alongside biographer Walter Isaacson, filmmaker Ken Burns, historian Annette Gordon-Reed and writer Clint Smith.
The discussion is expected to focus on the evolution of the American experiment, including its ideals, conflicts and ongoing pursuit of progress, through the lenses of history, journalism and storytelling. Several participants have contributed to recent national projects examining the country’s founding and legacy, including Burns’ PBS documentary series The American Revolution and The Atlantic‘s reporting tied to its special issue, The Unfinished Revolution.
“The Atlantic is honored to return to the New Orleans Book Festival for an opening night that takes on a moment of extraordinary national significance,” Goldberg said. “As the country approaches its 250th anniversary, we look forward to convening voices that can help us reflect on the American story — its triumphs, tensions and possibilities — and explore how ideas and journalism shape our democracy.”
The New Orleans Book Festival will run March 12–15 on Tulane University’s uptown campus and is free and open to the public. Organizers said registration is available through the festival’s website, with a full schedule of events to be released in early March.
Now entering its fifth year, the festival has seen steady growth, with organizers citing record attendance in 2025. In response, the 2026 event will expand its footprint, bringing the Avron B. Fogelman Arena at the Devlin Fieldhouse fully online as the festival’s largest venue to accommodate major conversations and speakers.
“The New Orleans Book Festival is more than an event — it’s a literary odyssey that celebrates the power of storytelling,” said Isaacson, the festival’s co-chair and the Leonard A. Lauder Professor of American History and Values at Tulane. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, this opening night sets the tone for a festival that bridges generations, disciplines and perspectives.”
Beyond the opening keynote, the festival will feature a wide-ranging slate of panels tied to the “America 250” theme, spanning history, politics, culture, economics and civic life. Programming will include perspectives rooted in Louisiana alongside broader national discussions on democracy and identity.
The 2026 lineup includes journalists, authors, academics and public figures such as David Brooks, Anderson Cooper, Ibram X. Kendi, Gov. Wes Moore, U.S. Rep. Troy A. Carter, Mayor Helena Moreno and Dr. Sanjay Gupta, among many others. A full list of participants is available on the festival’s website.
The festival will also bring back its popular culinary track, featuring chefs, restaurateurs and food writers, along with expanded food offerings from local vendors. Live music programming will return in the Hyatt Regency Festival Tent, with performances scheduled throughout Friday and Saturday and a closing musical celebration Saturday evening.
Additional expansions include a larger festival bookstore on the Berger Family Lawn in partnership with Baldwin & Co. and Octavia Books, and an expanded Burgundy Room, an intimate conversation space hosted by Cleo Wade and Nicole Richie.
“Our fifth anniversary celebration will represent the readers, writers and literary community who have made this festival possible,” said festival co-chair Cheryl Landrieu. “Opening with a reflection on America at 250 invites us to consider how stories shape our shared future.”
The festival will conclude Sunday, March 15, with Family Day at the Fest, featuring free programming for children and families. New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore and his wife, Julie, will serve as co-chairs, with FOX 8 morning anchor Kelsey Davis emceeing the day’s events.
Organizers said the festival remains free to the public through the support of donors, media partners and community sponsors. All events will take place on Tulane University’s uptown campus.