National Review Institute

Regional Seminars · America’s 250th Anniversary

The 2026 Lasting Liberty Series

National Review’s 2026 regional event series celebrated the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth. The American conservative movement exists to conserve these principles—and National Review has been at the forefront of that movement since its inception.

As we look toward the country’s future, it is essential to continue advocating the principles that sustain a free and prosperous society and promoting civic education.

In 2026, we hosted seven events in major cities across the country, each focusing on a distinct theme to explore these enduring ideas and their continued importance to America’s future and prosperity.

David Bahnsen speaks from the podium to the full domed chamber at Old Parkland during the Economic Freedom seminar
David Bahnsen · Economic Freedom · Old Parkland, Dallas · May 28, 2026

The Seven Seminars

  1. March 31, 2026

    New York, NY

    The Union League

    Individual Liberty

    Our program explored how America’s Founders built a system to secure natural rights and protect essential freedoms—enshrined in the Constitution and the First Amendment—and why free expression, religious liberty, and the right to assemble remain the core safeguards of a free society.

    Featured speakers
    Seth Dillon, Caroline Downey, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Rich Lowry, Andrew C. McCarthy, Dan McLaughlin, Jonathan Turley, Kristen Waggoner

  2. April 17, 2026

    Miami, FL

    The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove

    Limited Government

    The Founders believed liberty preceded the state, and that government existed not to grant rights but to secure them through limits on power. This program examined why limited government remained essential to protecting freedom in modern America.

    Featured speakers
    Jeb Bush, Charles C. W. Cooke, Daniel Hannan, Jim Geraghty, César Grajales, Vahaken Mouradian, Ryan Owens, Timothy Sandefur, John Yoo

  3. May 28, 2026

    Dallas, TX

    Old Parkland

    Economic Freedom

    America’s founders held that economic freedom is inseparable from political liberty and essential to human flourishing. This program reaffirmed why free markets and limited government remain the surest foundation for opportunity, innovation, and human flourishing.

    Featured speakers
    David Bahnsen, Phil Gramm, Jeb Hensarling, Rich Lowry, Dominic Pino, Karl Rove, Samuel Gregg, Andrew Stuttaford

  4. June 29, 2026

    Newport Beach, CA

    Balboa Bay Resort

    American Leadership & National Security

    This program examined why sustained American leadership and robust alliances remain essential not only to U.S. interests but to the preservation of freedom and human dignity worldwide.

    Featured speakers
    H.R. McMaster, Seth Cropsey, Lisa Daftari, Jim Geraghty, Michael Lucci, Noah Rothman, Thérèse Shaheen, Will Swaim

    Video coming soon

  5. July 23, 2026

    Washington, D.C.

    Top of the Hill

    Constitutional Government

    A free society depends on the equal application of the law, with individuals and institutions alike held to consistent and impartial standards. This program featured legal scholars and public voices who value originalism and who defend the integrity of the judiciary as a coequal and indispensable branch of government.

    Featured speakers
    John Ashcroft, Paul Clement, Jeff Sessions, James Rosen, Casey Mattox, Ilya Shapiro, Kristen Waggoner, Charles C. W. Cooke, Philip Klein, Ramesh Ponnuru

  6. August 26, 2026

    San Francisco, CA

    Commonwealth Club

    American Innovation

    America’s enduring strength has been fueled by a culture that rewards innovation, entrepreneurship, and the free exchange of ideas. A thriving society depends on these forces, which enable individuals to transform ideas into lasting advancements that shape the future.

    Featured speakers
    Peter J. Travers, Rich Lowry, Nathan McCauley, Charles Miller, Matt O’Connell, Robbie Schingler, Ryan Whitley, Dr. Rainer Zitelmann

  7. September 24, 2026

    Nashville, TN

    The Untitled Nashville Hotel

    Moral Bedrocks

    The fact that the sacred and the secular can thrive together in the United States is not a departure from Judeo-Christian morality — it’s a feature of that theological and philosophical inheritance. This program laid out a vision for returning to a culture where moral truths sustain freedom, strengthen families and communities, and foster a flourishing society.

    Featured speakers
    Caroline Downey, Stephen Hawkins, Rich Lowry, Eric Metaxas, Jonathan Skrmetti, Lathan Watts

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

  • The Peter and Judy Copses Foundation

Silver Sponsors

  • Mr. James Bayless
  • Mr. and Mrs. Michael Brakey
  • Mr. and Mrs. Dale Brott
  • Mr. Charles Correll
  • Mr. Craig Fox and Mrs. Angel Fox
  • Mr. Brett Young

Bronze Sponsors

  • Mr. and Mrs. John and Erika Ammirati
  • Mr. and Mrs. George and Marie Andros
  • Apricity Foundation
  • Mr. John Dalshiem
  • Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Edelman and Susan Edelman
  • Florida State University Institute for Governance & Civics
  • Mr. and Mrs. Michael Frawley
  • Hear the People Education Foundation, Inc.
  • HEYCO Energy Group
  • Hugh and Hazel Darling Foundation
  • Mr. Gerard Jensen
  • Mr. James Lacy
  • Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Raymond
  • Mr. Bill Roth
  • Mr. Peter J. Travers
  • Mrs. Catherine Barr Windels

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