Part of Mount Vernon's America 250 Celebration, November 5–7 Event Hosted by the George Washington Presidential Library; Limited Seats Remain
MOUNT VERNON, Va., October 22, 2026 —Former White House adviser Karl Rove, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, philanthropist David Rubenstein, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and leading historians, journalists, and civic leaders will gather November 5–7 for Lessons from the Founding: The 2026 George Washington Symposium, hosted by the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
Part of Mount Vernon's commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, the three-day symposium will examine the principles that shaped America's founding, the challenges facing American democracy today, and lessons for strengthening the republic for future generations.
The program will bring together prominent voices from across the political spectrum for discussions on constitutional democracy, presidential leadership, civil-military relations, public service, religious freedom, civic education, and other issues central to the American experiment. Featured speakers and discussions include:
- Karl Rove, former senior adviser to President George W. Bush, in a discussion with Mark Updegrove, CEO of the LBJ Foundation, on the history of the American presidency.
- Leon Panetta, former secretary of defense and CIA director, in a discussion on civil-military relations with Admiral Michelle Howard and Brigadier General Ty Seidule, moderated by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson.
- David Rubenstein, philanthropist and co-founder of The Carlyle Group, in a conversation on philanthropy and democracy with Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn.
- Former Governors Mitch Daniels and Lamar Alexander, discussing public service and leadership.
- Melody Barnes, former White House domestic policy adviser, and Judge J. Michael Luttig, discussing ways to strengthen American democracy.
- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a discussion on civics education with Louise Dubé, CEO of iCivics.
The symposium will also feature prominent journalists and authors, including Peter Baker of The New York Times, Susan Glasser of The New Yorker, Robert Costa of CBS News, Elie Honig of CNN and Steve Inskeep of NPR.
MEDIA RSVP REQUIRED
Members of the news media interested in attending and covering the symposium must RSVP in advance. Media seating is limited, and advance confirmation is required. To request media credentials, please contact Julie Almacy at [email protected]. Media attendance and coverage opportunities are subject to confirmation.
Access the full program and registration information.
EVENT DETAILS
Limited seats remain for this special 250th anniversary event. In-person registration includes all lectures, meals, and receptions, including the opening black-tie gala. Virtual tickets are also available.
What: Lessons from the Founding: The 2026 George Washington Symposium, hosted by the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
When: Thursday, November 5 – Saturday, November 7, 2026. The symposium opens with an evening gala on November 5, followed by two days of discussions on November 6–7.
Where: George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA. The opening gala will take place at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria.
Tickets: In-person tickets are $1,250 for the general public and $1,000 for members and donors. Virtual tickets are $50. Limited in-person seating remains, and advance registration is encouraged. Purchase tickets and view the full program.
The George Washington Symposium is supported by a generous endowment established by The Barra Foundation. The 2026 Symposium's leadership sponsors are Stand Together and More Perfect, with additional support from The Francine A. LeFrak Foundation and Don and Karen Tavolacci.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill, as well as the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Learn more at www.mountvernon.org.
