Justin Trudeau, Sal Khan, Dambisa Moyo, and Laurie Santos headline. Fifth speaker to be announced.
The Richmond Forum, America’s largest nonprofit speakers series, has announced its 2026–2027 lineup. From the future of learning to the forces shaping our global economy, this season brings timely ideas to the stage and invites subscribers into a shared experience of big questions and meaningful conversation with a community of Richmond’s most curious minds.
The season opens on November 21, 2026, with a trailblazing artist to be announced. Her career has taken her to the pinnacle of her field and beyond, and she has plenty of stories to tell. A full announcement is coming soon.
On January 16, 2027, Dr. Laurie Santos will help us ring in our New Year’s resolutions with “Why We’re So Bad at Being Happy.” The psychologist behind Yale University’s most popular course in history has made it her life’s work to understand why our instincts about happiness so reliably lead us astray. She will challenge our assumptions and offer practical, and sometimes counterintuitive, evidence-based strategies for building a life that feels as good as it looks.
The conversation turns to AI’s impact on education on February 13, 2027, as Sal Khan takes the stage for “Classroom Reboot.” The founder of the digital learning platform Khan Academy, used by 200 million worldwide, will make the case that AI, used well, can personalize learning, expand access, and unlock human potential on a scale that, until now, we could only dream of.
On March 20, 2027, Baroness Dambisa Moyo will tackle the shifting ground beneath the rapidly changing global economy. In “Tectonic Shifts in Global Trade,” the economist, bestselling author, and member of the UK’s House of Lords will dissect the forces driving today’s trade realignments and offer an unflinching assessment of where the global economy is headed and what we all stand to gain or lose in the process.
The season concludes on April 17, 2027, with the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau. Tariffs, climate imperatives, and competing priorities have strained the relationship between the United States and Canada in ways that affect both sides of the 49th parallel. Having spent a decade at the helm during some of modern history’s most consequential moments, in “Oh, Canada!” Trudeau will offer a candid reflection of what leadership in trying times entails.
“Ideas are more powerful when we encounter them together,” said Heather Crislip, Executive Director of The Richmond Forum. “We’ve built a season around the questions we’re all asking: Are we on the brink of a global recession? How will AI change the way our children learn? What does it take to be truly happy? We hope you’ll be part of the conversation.”
Subscriptions are on sale now with options starting at $145. Online subscriptions offer full streaming access to all five programs. Simulcast Room subscriptions offer general admission seating in the ballroom of Richmond’s historic Altria Theater. Both options come with the ability to upgrade to seating in the main theater on a program-by-program basis — no waitlist or lottery required.
Current subscribers have until May 19, 2026, to renew their seats and request upgrades.
For nearly four decades, The Richmond Forum has connected the Richmond community to global leaders, cultural icons, and transformative thinkers, from Nobel laureates and astronauts to artists and former U.S. presidents. With over 6,000 attendees per program, in person and online, The Forum remains one of the city’s most vibrant stages for civic learning, public discourse, and shared discovery.
The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Proceeds from each season support the expansion of speech and debate programs in Richmond-area public schools.
