The Atlantic Festival, back for the second year in New York City from September 17 to 19, is announcing new speakers including the legendary quarterback, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Colin Kaepernick, who will be interviewed by contributing writer Jemele Hill about his forthcoming memoir, The Perilous Fight. The festival will also feature an exclusive first look of Netflix’s limited series East of Eden, a fresh interpretation of John Steinbeck’s novel that has been adapted and executive produced by Zoe Kazan, who also serves as co-showrunner. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Kazan, the series’ executive producer and star Florence Pugh, and Bela Bajaria, the chief content officer of Netflix, moderated by staff writer Shirley Li. These events are part of many new programming announcements today, including: Padma Lakshmi, on the future of creative work and the entertainment industry; Senator Mark Kelly, in conversation with staff writer Mark Leibovich, who recently profiled the senator for the magazine; a discussion about press freedom with Joe Kahn, the executive editor of The New York Times, together with Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s editor in chief, and Amna Nawaz, a PBS News Hour co-anchor; former Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, interviewed by the MS NOW anchor Stephanie Ruhle; a conversation with the author, actor, and filmmaker Ben McKenzie; a conversation with the journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell; and a conversation with the filmmaker Richard Linklater. Also at The Atlantic Festival:
- Pete Buttigieg; Andrew Card and Karl Rove; Rahm Emanuel; Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd; Representative Chip Roy; Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad; San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval; University of California President James B. Milliken, Mount Holyoke College President Danielle R. Holley, and Columbia University President Jennifer L. Mnookin; State Attorneys General Rob Bonta of California, John Formella of New Hampshire, and David Sunday of Pennsylvania; The Anxious Generation author and Atlantic contributing writer Jonathan Haidt; author and famed Odyssey translator Emily Wilson; The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan; and live events with Atlantic podcast hosts David Brooks, David Frum, Adam Harris, Hanna Rosin, and Charlie Warzel. The festival involves dozens of The Atlantic’s writers and editors, and today we’ve added Tyler Austin Harper, Honor Jones, Helen Lewis, and Caity Weaver.
Special programming, screenings, and Out and Abouts: ‘A Soundtrack of a Nation’ at Zuccotti Theater (PAC NYC) Thursday, September 17, 7:30 to 9 p.m. ET The festival’s opening-night program, “A Soundtrack of a Nation,” a special collaboration with Juilliard, including the composer and pianist Nicholas Britell, the tap dancer and choreographer Michelle Dorrance, the bass-baritone Davóne Tines, and Juilliard President Damian Woetzel; additional performers are to be announced. Crime and Punishment at Roxy Cinema Saturday, September 19, 11 to 12 p.m. ET An exclusive screening of the forthcoming PBS documentary series, which explores the 250-year history of the United States’ criminal legal system, directed by Lynn Novick and executive produced by Ken Burns and Sam Pollard, followed by a discussion with Novick and the poet Reginald Dwayne Betts. Playing POTUS at Roxy Cinema Saturday, September 19, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. ET A new documentary on presidential parody featuring Saturday Night Live alumni and comedy legends, with director Josh Greenbaum and more speakers to be announced. Tickets: Single-Day Passes and Out and About tickets are now on sale, along with 2-Day Premier and 2-Day General Admission Passes. Atlantic subscribers receive an exclusive 30 percent discount on festival passes and select Out and About programming. The 2026 Atlantic Festival is underwritten by Genentech at the Presenting Level; Boston Scientific, Contentful, Edward Jones, and TIAA at the Supporting Level; and Allstate, Calm Health, Ferrero, and Hauser & Wirth and Seabourn Cruise Line at the Contributing Level. Media and creators interested in covering the festival should reach out to our comms team at [email protected]; in-person seating will be limited and will need to be reserved in advance. The Atlantic Festival September 17–19, 2026 Perelman Performing Arts Center and venues around the city, including the Tenement Museum, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Roxy Cinema. For Passes: theatlantic.com/theatlanticfestival
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