Presenting the Seventh–Annual Texas Tribune Festival!
The Texas Tribune Festival is an innovative and engaging three-day event for people who are passionate about the issues that affect all Texans. Each year, the Festival brings together some of the biggest names in politics to explore the state’s — and nation’s — most pressing issues.
This year's event will feature more than 60 sessions and 250 speakers in lively discussions on education, climate change, President Trump, the role of media in 2017, and much more.
Join us Sept. 22-24, 2017 on the University of Texas at Austin campus. See you at the Fest!
Updates
Al Franken Announced for Opening Keynote
Aug. 15, 2017, 6 a.m.
We’re excited to announce our opening keynote speaker, best-selling author and U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota. He will join Evan Smith, co-founder and CEO of the Tribune, at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium on Friday, Sept. 22, to discuss his best-selling memoir, Al Franken: Giant of the Senate.
Franken’s book covers his decision to run for office and his unlikely 2008 campaign. It also examines our “deeply polarized, frequently depressing, occasionally inspiring political culture, written from inside the belly of the beast.” Before entering politics, Franken was an award-winning comedy writer for Saturday Night Live, an author and a radio talk show host.
To join the conversation with Sen. Franken and more than 250 other speakers set to take the stage throughout the weekend, get your Festival tickets today!
Full Program Now Available + Download the App
July 31, 2017, 9 p.m.
We are thrilled to announce the program and schedule for the seventh-annual Texas Tribune Festival. This year’s Festival will cover new ground, with lively discussions on various aspects of President Donald Trump's first year in office; the changing relationship between politics and the media; the 2018 election cycle; and hot topics in public and higher education, criminal justice, immigration, health care, energy, the environment and transportation.
Among the most anticipated panels are:
A rare joint appearance by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas
The state of accountability journalism with The New York Times’ Amy Chozick; Pulitzer Prize-winner David Fahrenthold of the Washington Post; Bloomberg’s Joshua Green, author of the #1 best-seller Devil’s Bargain; and The Wall Street Journal’s Eli Stokols
Lessons of urban policing with Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and former Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown
Trump and the Resistance, with The Indivisible Project’s Ezra Levin, civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson and Planned Parenthood’s Cecile Richards
Public broadcasting and the public interest, with Frontline’s Raney Aronson-Rath and PBS CEO Paula Kerger
Panel discussions on the biggest agenda items of the 85th Legislative Session, including sanctuary cities, school finance, maternal mortality, foster care reform, mental health and bathroom access
Plus an entire track of podcasts recorded live, including Larry Wilmore’s Black on the Air, Ana Marie Cox’s With Friends Like These, and Ben Domenech’s Federalist Radio Hour
Accessibility at TTF - Travel Grant Application Now Open
July 17, 2017, 6 a.m.
The Texas Tribune Festival strives to be accessible to all who are interested in participating.
We are pleased to announce that we have again received a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities to provide a limited number of travel stipends to selected Texas residents with developmental disabilities. To apply, fill out this application no later than Aug. 18, 2017. Selected participants will be notified no later than the week of Aug. 28.
For more information on accessibility at the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival, click here.
Special thanks to:
TribFeast Announces Katy Tur
June 28, 2017, 10 a.m.
We are excited to announce that Katy Tur of MSNBC (profiled this month in the New York Times) will be our guest at this year’s TribFeast — Saturday night, September 23, smack in the middle of Festival weekend!
Tur was the breakout star among reporters on the 2016 campaign, making the most of an unexpected assignment to cover Donald Trump. Over the course of 16 months, she was called out repeatedly by the candidate and his supporters as a “liar” and worse, previewing the now-familiar refrain that the media is dishonest and journalists are enemies of the people. But she stood her ground, and viewers and fans sprung to her defense, adopting the hashtag #imwithtur.
Unbelievable, her front-row account of the craziest campaign in American history, will soon be published. It tells the story of what it was like to report on the most combative and volatile major party nominee ever to run and win. Come hear her insider tales from the trail — and go home with a complimentary copy of her must-read book.
Individual tickets and tables are available, including a special VIP package for two that includes your Festival tickets.
Already bought a ticket but want to add TribFeast? Contact us.
Proceeds from TribFeast benefit the Tribune's ambitious, award-winning work. We anticipate a room full of thought leaders and philanthropists from across the state, including elected officials and big-name journalists on the Festival program.
Franklin Barbecue Feast
June 1, 2017, 10:30 a.m.
Join us on Thursday, Sept. 21, to kick off the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival at the legendary Franklin Barbecue with a compelling conversation about the state of politics and the media following the 2016 elections.
Texas Tribune cofounder and CEO Evan Smith will moderate a discussion with Steve Schmidt, a longtime Republican political strategist and top adviser to the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain; and Donna Brazile, a veteran Democratic political strategist, former interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee and former campaign director for Al Gore’s presidential run.
Tickets to this event, which include all-you-can-eat barbecue and beer, are sold separately from a Texas Tribune Festival registration. Space is extremely limited and sell out quickly, so get yours today!
The Franklin Barbecue Feast is presented by NRG Energy.
A Look Back at #TTF 2016
Oct. 4, 2016, 10 a.m.
From lively political discussions during each panel to exciting special events throughout the weekend, the sixth annual Texas Tribune Festival was undoubtedly our best yet! Relive all the action with video, audio and photos from the many Festival highlights and events.
Video
You can now watch videos from numerous sessions, including our opening keynote with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, our closing keynote with Evan McMullin, 2016 independent candidate for U.S. president, a discussion with former state Sen. Wendy Davis and may others listed below:
One on One with John Kasich Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith interviewed Ohio governor and former 2016 Republican presidential candidate John Kasich.
A Cure for Cancer New York Times Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jake Silverstein led a panel discussion with former professional cyclist Lance Armstrong, state Rep. Sarah Davis, MD Anderson Cancer Center president Ronald DePinho and James Wilson, chief scientific officer of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.
The Remaking of the Alamo Author Stephen Harrigan interviewed Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush; Phil Collins, musician and author of "The Alamo and Beyond: A Collector's Journey"; and state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio.
Big Cities, Big Challenges Dallas Morning News Editor Mike Wilson interviewed Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.
One on One With Ken Starr Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith interviewed former Baylor Chancellor and President Ken Starr.
Can the Center Hold? Alex Wagner, senior editor at The Atlantic, led a panel discussion with former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Virginia, former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell and former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson.
Is Texas Good for Women? Texas Tribune Editor-in-Chief Emily Ramshaw interviewed former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and former state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth.
The State of Black America Author Touré interviewed Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor and National Center for Policy Analysis Executive Director Allen West.
What’s the Matter With Congress? Texas Tribune Washington Bureau Chief Abby Livingston led a panel discussion with U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and Bill Flores, R-Waco.
One on One With Ted Cruz Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith interviewed U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
The LGBTQ Agenda MTV News senior political correspondent Ana Marie Cox interviewed former Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
The View From Elsewhere New York Times Magazine contributor Robert Draper interviewed Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
2016 WTF? Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith led a panel discussion with former Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza, MTV senior correspondent Ana Marie Cox, MSNBC political correspondent Steve Kornacki, Time Washington correspondent Jay Newton-Small and Washington Post national political reporter David Weigel.
One on One with Evan McMullin Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith interviewed Evan McMullin, an independent 2016 candidate for president.
Audio
Listen back to nearly all the Festival sessions via Soundcloud and relive your favorite moments from each panel!
Photos
Browse through photos from all three days of the Festival. The password to download photos is: ttf2016.
