Today, National Review is proud to announce the distinguished recipients of the 2026 William F. Buckley Jr. Prize — two remarkable leaders who have made a lasting impact on our movement and our nation.

These individuals have made extraordinary contributions to the conservative movement through their entrepreneurship, advocacy, philanthropy, and leadership. Each has demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing the principles of limited government, free markets, and individual liberty that form the foundation of our republic. In this year marking America’s 250th anniversary, we are honored to recognize:

  • William F. Buckley Jr. Prize for Leadership in Supporting Liberty: Joe Lonsdale
  • William F. Buckley Jr. Prize for Leadership in Political Thought: Steve Forbes

Joe Lonsdale is the founder and managing partner of 8VC, a venture capital firm managing over $8 billion in committed capital. Joe is an entrepreneur, investor, and champion of American innovation who has done much to strengthen the institutions and ideas on which a free society depends. In 2003, he founded Palantir Technologies, a global software company known for its work supporting the U.S. and its allies. Since then, he has founded over a dozen prominent companies, including Addepar, a wealth management platform supporting over $9 trillion in assets, and OpenGov, a mission-driven cloud software provider for local governments. He continues to create and scale companies through the 8VC Build program including Saronic, Epirus, and Resilience Bio. As chairman of the board of the Cicero Institute, he battles special interests to promote effective and accountable governance, with teams in over 20 states and more than 170 laws passed. In 2021, Joe became the founding chairman of the board of the University of Austin (UATX), a new university dedicated to restoring the pursuit of truth and our founding principles in higher education.

Steve Forbes is editor-in-chief of Forbes, an iconic global media brand that has symbolized entrepreneurial capitalism for over a century. Forbes reaches more than 140 million people monthly worldwide through its trusted journalism, its signature ForbesLive events, and 49 licensed local editions in 81 countries. Steve is also a former presidential candidate running in both the 1996 and 2000 presidential races. Key to his platform were a flat tax, medical savings accounts, a new Social Security system for working Americans, parental choice of schools for their children, term limits, and a strong national defense. He’s long been an advocate for the principles of America’s founding, including free market economics and individual liberty.

These two prizes recognize individuals whose work has enlarged the cause of freedom in both thought and action.

To learn more about the prize dinner and register for the event — set for October 29 in New York City — click here. The evening offers a unique opportunity to honor Joe Lonsdale and Steve Forbes, connect with fellow conservatives, and recommit ourselves to the principles that unite our movement.

In the coming weeks, we will share more about our honorees and this year’s celebration. We hope their stories will inspire you and serve as a reminder of the importance of strong leadership in advancing the principles of freedom today.