The Atlantic Festival

The Atlantic Festival. An annual ideas festival convened by the magazine The Atlantic, bringing together prominent voices from across politics, culture, technology, and business for a multi-day series of interviews, panels, and performances. Held primarily in Washington, D.C., it serves as a live extension of the publication's journalism, fostering conversations on the most pressing issues facing the United States and the world. The event typically features a blend of on-stage dialogues, immersive experiences, and satellite events across the nation's capital.

Overview

The festival is a flagship live event for The Atlantic, an institution founded in 1857 by noted writers including Harriet Beecher Stowe and Ralph Waldo Emerson. It operates under the leadership of the publication's editor-in-chief and its parent organization, Emerson Collective. Programming is strategically centered in venues across Washington, D.C., such as the The Wharf and the Sidney Harman Hall, leveraging the city's status as a global hub for policy and media. The gathering aims to translate the magazine's long-form, investigative ethos into a dynamic, participatory forum, often coinciding with major political moments in the United States Congress or the White House.

History and evolution

Launched in September 2018, the festival was conceived as an expansion of The Atlantic's long-standing live journalism efforts, which previously included singular events like The Atlantic Washington Ideas Forum. Its inaugural edition featured interviews with figures like Jeff Bezos and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The event has evolved in scale and format, notably adapting to virtual and hybrid models during the COVID-19 pandemic under the guidance of then-editor Jeffrey Goldberg. Subsequent festivals have increasingly incorporated themes around climate change, artificial intelligence, and democratic institutions, reflecting the editorial focus of the magazine and the tenure of Atlantic Media leadership.

Format and programming

The festival typically spans three days and comprises several concurrent programming tracks. The core format consists of one-on-one interviews conducted by The Atlantic editors like McKay Coppins and Anne Applebaum with newsmakers. These are complemented by panel discussions featuring experts from institutions like the Brookings Institution and the MIT Media Lab. Interactive elements include live podcast tapings for shows like Radio Atlantic, policy workshops, and artistic performances. Satellite events often extend to locations like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, creating a distributed festival footprint across Washington, D.C..

Notable speakers and participants

The event has hosted a wide array of influential figures from various sectors. Political participants have included President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Senator Mitt Romney. Technology and business leaders such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and General Motors CEO Mary Barra have been featured. Cultural voices have ranged from actress and activist Jane Fonda to musician Jon Batiste and author George Saunders. International perspectives have been provided by figures like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Impact and reception

The festival is recognized as a significant gathering within the media and political landscape, often generating national news coverage from outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and Politico. Its interviews frequently yield headline-making statements on policy from figures in the Biden Administration or the Republican Party. Critics and analysts from Poynter and the Columbia Journalism Review have noted its role in elevating substantive policy discourse. The event also functions as an important platform for launching initiatives and reports from partner organizations like the Aspen Institute and the Ford Foundation, extending its influence beyond the immediate audience.

Category:Festivals in the United States Category:The Atlantic Category:Recurring events established in 2018