From marquee conversations and exclusive previews to participatory debates and working sessions, UVA’s flagship democracy gathering invites the public to engage in shaping America’s future.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—The University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy today announced the full programming lineup and confirmed speakers for Democracy360, its signature biennial gathering taking place October 15–17 in Charlottesville. The free, three-day event will feature an exclusive preview screening of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, a special livestreamed episode of PBS News’ “Washington Week with The Atlantic,” and marquee conversations with leading journalists, Pulitzer Prize–winning historians, best-selling authors, and more, all exploring the future of democracy as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding.  

A defining feature of Democracy360 is that it will invite participants to both listen and engage. Attendees will be able to take part in interactive programming, while the Karsh Institute convenes focused, multiday working sessions on UVA’s Grounds. These small, topic-driven gatherings will bring together students, practitioners, and scholars to imagine bold, future-oriented answers to the urgent challenges facing democracy.

“The Karsh Institute of Democracy brings people together to generate ideas and solutions that build a better democracy for all, and Democracy360 is a powerful extension of that mission,” said Karsh Institute Executive Director Melody Barnes. “As Americans raise urgent questions about the health and direction of democracy, this event offers space for curious, civic-minded people to wrestle with tough issues, share diverse perspectives, and imagine new possibilities. Our goal is not only to reflect on democracy’s challenges, but also to spark and advance the ideas and connections that can help it endure and thrive.” 

The Karsh Institute is proud to once again partner with The Atlantic as the event’s official media partner and with VPM as distribution partner, ensuring Democracy360’s conversations reach audiences across Virginia and nationwide.

“I’m very happy to be partnering again with the Karsh Institute of Democracy,” said The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg. “The Karsh Institute does important work on this vital subject, and we need more occasions to come together to address the state of democracy. The American experiment is still young, and its success is not preordained. I hope the conversations we have at Democracy360 will help clarify the issues and challenges before us.”

“VPM is proud to support Democracy360 as its distribution partner, particularly as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the birth of our nation,” said Jayme Swain, president and CEO of VPM. “By making these important conversations accessible to the greater public, it is our hope to remind citizens of the critical role we all play in protecting and preserving our democracy.”

Whether you were among the thousands who attended the inaugural Democracy360 in 2023 or are joining for the first time, the 2025 event will offer a front-row seat to a vibrant, multifaceted exploration of democracy. Free tickets for all sessions are now available.

Mainstage Programming at The Paramount Theater

Becoming America: Past, Promise, and the Path Ahead at 250 
An exclusive preview of Ken Burns’ forthcoming PBS documentary The American Revolution will set the stage for a conversation about the meaning and legacy of America’s founding and what the ideals of the Revolution demand of us today. The panel—which will include experts from the film—features Monticello CEO Jane Kamensky, Pulitzer Prize–winning historians Alan Taylor (UVA) and Kathleen DuVal (UNC), The Atlantic’s Vann Newkirk II, and moderator Jayme Swain, president and CEO of VPM.

Building the American Dream: Work, Tech, and Community in a Shifting Economy 
What does opportunity look like in 21st-century America? New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie, Oren Cass, founder of American Compass, and The Atlantic’s Annie Lowrey and moderator Yoni Appelbaum will explore how technological change, economic mobility, and the meaning of work are reshaping the American Dream.

Washington Week With The Atlantic @D360 
PBS News’ weekly news-analysis program comes to The Paramount. Moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, will be joined by staff writers Tom Nichols, Vivian Salama, and Nancy Youssef to analyze the week’s major news stories. The special episode will be livestreamed by Washington Week and PBS News.

Guardrails of Democracy: The Law, Institutions, and the American Experiment 
Panelists, including former DOJ spokesperson Sarah Isgur, will discuss with moderator Evan Smith, co-founder of The Texas Tribune, how the Constitution, courts, and civic norms adapt in moments of strain—and how they continue to evolve amid today’s political and legal volatility.

Stories that Bind Us: A Conversation With Beth Macy 
Beth Macy, acclaimed author of Dopesick and Factory Man, will sit down with Karsh Institute Executive Director Melody Barnes for a conversation on the forces shaping America’s rural and urban communities—and the stories that bind us. Drawing from her forthcoming memoir, Paper Girl, Macy will explore how economic upheaval, cultural tensions, and polarization have reshaped her hometown and the nation.

Opportunities for Engagement 

Join the Conversation: Common Ground, Common Sound 
Across cultures and throughout history, music has brought people together to communicate, reflect, and connect. Part community concert and part participatory rhythm session, this event will welcome everyone—no experience required—to partake in a shared civic act through sound. Enjoy performances by Corey Harris, the Albemarle High School Drum Line, and others.  

Join the Conversation: Democracy in Action 
How is democracy strengthened every day in neighborhoods, community organizations, polling places, and on the ballot? In this interactive session, the Karsh Institute’s practitioner fellows share their on-the-ground work to build civic trust and participation, and advance democracy at the local level.

Join the Conversation: A ‘Braver Angels’ Debate  
Students and community members will come together to explore opposing views with respect, curiosity, and a spirit of shared learning. In this structured debate, participants will consider a resolution tied to the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. No prior debate experience is necessary, just curiosity and a willingness to engage. 

Join the Conversation: ‘Feast of Reason’  
Inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s legendary dinner parties, this lunchtime dialogue invites participants to share a meal while exploring democratic values, civic identity, and the legacy of 1776 through a guided conversation format developed by Monticello.

All Democracy360 public events are free to attend, with tickets required for entry. Tickets for the public sessions announced today are now available through The Paramount Theater Box Office. All sessions are general admission. Media inquiries and credential requests should be directed to erin.tor@virginia.edu.