Presenting the Sixth 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 riveting conversation about race and law enforcement, climate change, the 2016 presidential election and much more.
Join us from Sept. 23-25, 2016 on The University of Texas at Austin campus. See you at the Fest!
Updates
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 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.
Thank You
Sept. 26, 2016, 7:22 a.m.
We hope you enjoyed your weekend at the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival!
Don't forget you can watch video recordings of select panels here.
See you next year!
Watch from Home
Sept. 22, 2016, 10 a.m.
You’ve come to depend on Texas Tribune Events being available via online streaming, and we’ve got your covered for the Fest.
Thursday, Sept. 22 7:30 p.m. One on One with Martin Baron and moderator Evan Smith | Facebook Live
Friday, Sept. 23 5 p.m. Live TribCast Recording | Facebook Live
7 p.m. One on One with John Kasich and moderator Evan Smith | Livestream
Saturday, Sept. 24 8:30 a.m. A Cure for Cancer | Livestream Lance Armstrong, Sarah Davis, Ronald DePinho, James Willson and moderator Jake Silverstein
The Remaking of the Alamo | Livestream | Facebook Live George P. Bush, Phil Collins, José Menéndez and moderator Stephen Harrigan
9:50 a.m. Big Cities, Big Challenges | Livestream Mike Rawlings, Sylvester Turner and moderator Mike Wilson
One on One with Ken Starr and moderator Evan Smith | Livestream
11:10 a.m. Can the Center Hold? | Livestream Tom Davis, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ed Rendell, Bill Richardson and moderator Alex Wagner
Is Texas Good for Women? | Livestream | Facebook Live Susan Combs, Wendy Davis and moderator Emily Ramshaw
1:45 p.m. The State of Black America | Livestream | Facebook Live Kasim Reed, Ivy Taylor, Allen West and moderator Touré
What’s the Matter with Congress? | Livestream Joaquin Castro, Henry Cuellar, Bill Flores and moderator Abby Livingston
The LGBTQ Agenda | Livestream Annise Parker and moderator Ana Marie Cox 4:25 p.m.
The View from Elsewhere | Livestream John Hickenlooper, Asa Hutchinson and moderator Robert Draper
Sunday, Sept. 25 9 a.m. 2016 WTF? | Livestream | Facebook Live Chris Cillizza, Ana Marie Cox, Steve Kornacki, Jay Newton-Small, David Weigel and moderator Evan Smith
10:15 a.m. One on One with Evan McMullin and moderator Evan Smith | Livestream
Getting There
Sept. 21, 2016, 10 a.m.
Save time and money by using our rideshare promo or taking the bus to the Fest! Parking at UT-Austin will be extremely limited.
RideAustin
You can use promo code “TTF” to get $10 toward your ride to the Festival with RideAustin. Download the app here.
Capital Metro
Both the UT West Mall Station (497) and 2231 Guadalupe/ West Mall UT (1042) stops serve the UT-Austin area and provide a convenient way to get to the Festival. Buses that you can take to those stops include: 1, 3, 5, 19, 801 and 803. To map your trip and buy bus passes, download the CapMetro app here.
Parking
The AT&T Center offers Festival registrants a reduced rate of $11 per day to park in the conference center garage, though space in the garage is limited. Visit the information desk on the M2 level to purchase your reduced-price parking voucher. Additional paid parking is available in the Brazos Garage on Brazos Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and in the 27th Street Garage at 27th Street and University Avenue. Street parking in the surrounding area is also available, but watch the meters!
Join Our Student Social Media Squad
Sept. 16, 2016, 10 a.m.
Are you a college or high school student attending the Texas Tribune Fest?
Are you crazy about Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter? Then join our Tribune Fest Social Media Squad and help the world see the Festival from your eyes!
Get tips from the Tribune's social media team on the dos and don’ts of reporting from a political conference. Meet the producers and reporters who put the conference together.
To join the squad, complete this short form and join us at the Pre-Festival Student Summit on Friday, Sept. 23 at 4 p.m. in the Cactus Cafe in the Texas Union. During this welcome party for all student Fest attendees, we’ll huddle with the social media squad to share some tips on how to make the most of your Tribune Fest experience.
Join the squad! Sign up here, and we’ll see you at the Fest.
Meet the Speakers
Sept. 15, 2016, 9:59 a.m.
You’ll be excited to know that on Saturday, Sept. 24, during the Texas Tribune Festival, you’ll have the opportunity to meet select speakers and even have them sign their newest books for you. Below is just a glimpse of what we have lined up in the Festival lounges:
Meet-and-Greet with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner & Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings Hosted by HoustonFirst 10:50 a.m. | Texas Union, Lone Star Lounge
Meet-and-Greet with What’s the Matter with Congress? Panelists Hosted by Emerus 2:45 p.m. | AT&T Lounge
Signing of The Year of Voting Dangerously by New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd Hosted by BookPeople 3:10 p.m. | AT&T Lounge
Meet-and-Greet with Alex Wagner, senior editor of The Atlantic, and Abby Livingston, Washington bureau chief for The Texas Tribune Hosted by Texas Tribune Membership 4 p.m. | Texas Union, Lone Star Lounge
To view all of the meet-and-greet and book signing opportunities, take a look at our full program.
If you haven’t gotten your tickets to the Festival, register today — prices go up at midnight!
Evan McMullin Announced for Closing Keynote
Sept. 12, 2016, 10 a.m.
Evan McMullin, an independent candidate for president, will close the Texas Tribune Festival with a one-on-one keynote conversation with Tribune Co-Founder and CEO Evan Smith on Sunday, Sept. 25.
In other Festival news:
The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza will join Sunday's 2016 WTF? panel, featuring big names in national media discussing the 2016 elections and more.
Ken Starr, former chancellor and president of Baylor University, will sit down with Evan Smith for a one-on-one keynote conversation.
Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Travis County Sheriff Greg Hamilton will talk immigration and "sanctuary cities" during the Immigration and the Cities panel.
If you haven’t already registered for the Festival, make sure to get your tickets this week before the price hike on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
John Kasich Announced for Opening Keynote
Sept. 7, 2016, 10 a.m.
Ohio governor and 2016 Republican presidential primary candidate John Kasich will open the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival with a one-on-one keynote conversation with Tribune Co-Founder and CEO Evan Smith.
The opening keynote will take place on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. and center on the 2016 presidential race, the way forward on issues critical to the future of the country and Kasich’s record of accomplishment as the two-term chief executive of the Buckeye State.
To join the conversation with Gov. Kasich and more than 200 other speakers, get your Festival tickets today!
Hurry and Get Your Tickets!
Aug. 30, 2016, 9:02 a.m.
The last chance to register for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival at the current rate ($250) ends this Thursday, Sept. 1, at 11:59 p.m, so get your tickets today!
Don’t miss out on all the exciting programming we have in the works — that’s more than 250 speakers and 60 panels that make up the best Tribune Festival to date.
Discounts are available for students, educators and Texas Tribune members — or volunteer and attend for free.
The Washington Post’s Politics & Pints: TTF Edition
Aug. 25, 2016, 10 a.m.
Who says political junkies can’t have fun?
After a full day of panels, you’re invited to join The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza as he hosts the wildly popular trivia franchise Politics & Pints. Bring your friends and test your knowledge on everything from current events to politics. Teams of up to six will compete for first- and second-place prizes, as well as special prizes for best team names.
Doors to the event will open at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Scholz Garten. Entry to play is free with a Festival badge or $10 at the door for the public.
To register for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival, click here.
Full Program Is Here!
Aug. 17, 2016, 10 p.m.
Provocative conversations about the future of health care, the sharing economy, Zika, abortion, standardized testing, higher ed funding, border security and, of course, Donald Trump, are prominently featured throughout the full program for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival, which is now available!
Among the most anticipated panels are:
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in conversation with Tribune CEO and Co-Founder Evan Smith
Race and Law Enforcement, featuring Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo; state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas; state Rep. James White, R-Woodville; Right on Crime’s Marc Levin; and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition’s Shakira Pumphrey
Is Texas Good for Women? with former state Sen. Wendy Davis and former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs
The Remaking of the Alamo, featuring Grammy Award winner and Alamo enthusiast Phil Collins, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio
Big Cities, Big Challenges, featuring Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
The State of Black America, with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor in conversation with journalist and author Touré
Stay tuned for even more exciting updates leading up to the Festival. Join us and register today!
TTF — Accessible to All
Aug. 5, 2016, 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 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. 26. Selected participants will be notified the week of Aug. 29.
For more information on accessibility at the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival, click here.
Special thanks to:
Educators Save Big at Festival
July 15, 2016, 6 a.m.
Shaping the future of Texas is no minor task — We invite all faculty, staff and school administrators to register for the Texas Tribune Festival for just $50 (that’s nearly 85% off the walk-up price!).
Registration grants you access to the Fest’s big-name speakers — including top national and state lawmakers, scholars and journalists — as well as networking opportunities and lively receptions. Continuing education units will be available at select panels, courtesy of the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Highlights from our growing list of speakers in education include superintendents Paul Cruz of Austin ISD and Juan Cabrera of El Paso ISD; Gregory Fenves, president of the University of Texas at Austin; Robert Duncan, chancellor of the Texas Tech University System; Sara Cotner, founder and CEO of Montessori For All; and Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of the KIPP Foundation. Check out our list of nearly 200 speakers here.
Former New Mexico governor and 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson and Grammy Award-winning musician and Alamo enthusiast Phil Collins top the list of newly added speakers to this year’s already-packed Texas Tribune Festival lineup.
The last chance to register for the Festival at the early-bird rate ends this Thursday, July 14, at 11:59 p.m., so get your tickets today to attend the Fest at the best price. Discounts are available for students, educators and Texas Tribune members — or volunteer and attend for free.
The full list of newly added Festival speakers includes:
Gary Johnson, 2016 Libertarian Candidate for President
Phil Collins, Musician and Alamo Enthusiast
Dan Patrick, Texas Lieutenant Governor
Julianne Smith, Former Deputy Security Advisor to Vice President Joe Biden
George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner
U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, R-Bryan
Bill Kristol, Founder and Editor of The Weekly Standard
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston
State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto
Madeline McClure, Founder and CEO of TexProtects
Yasmin Bhatia, CEO of Uplift Education
Stephen Harrigan, Author
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of Texas A&M University-San Antonio
Daniel Garza, Founder of the Libre Initiative and Libre Institute
Jake Silverstein, Editor in Chief of The New York Times Magazine
You can check out the full lineup of the Festival’s nearly 200 speakers to date here.
We look forward to seeing you at the Fest!
TribFeast: A Dinner To Support Nonprofit Journalism
June 28, 2016, 10 a.m.
The Texas Tribune is excited to announce its first-ever TribFeast, an evening gala following the Texas Tribune Festival’s full day of panels and programming on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The dinner will feature New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, who will talk about Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and the state of the 2016 election in conversation with Tribune Co-Founder and CEO Evan Smith. Taking place at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center at The University of Texas at Austin, the evening will also include remarks by Larry R. Faulkner, former president of The University of Texas at Austin and Houston Endowment. Copies of Dowd’s new book, The Year of Voting Dangerously: The Derangement of American Politics, will be available at the event.
TribFeast will bring together thought leaders and philanthropists from around the state, including elected officials and policymakers who are confirmed as part of the Festival’s three-day program. Join us for what will be one of the best events of the year!
More Speakers Confirmed
June 1, 2016, 10 a.m.
We’re thrilled to announce an updated list of lawmakers, industry leaders and journalists to our lineup of confirmed speakers at this year’s Texas Tribune Festival.
Recently added talent includes:
John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado
U.S. Rep. Gene Green, D-Houston
Ronald DePinho, President of the MD Anderson Cancer Center
Tom DeLay, Former U.S. House Majority Leader
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown
Katharine Hayhoe, Director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University
Alex Wagner, Senior Editor at The Atlantic
Charles Smith, Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Antonia Okafor, Southwest Regional Director of Students for Concealed Carry
John Specia, Former Commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Robert Draper, Contributing Writer for The New York Times Magazine
Kenneth Cooper, Chairman Emeritus of the Cooper Institute Board of Trustees and Founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center
Lawrence Wright, Staff Writer at The New Yorker
Susan Combs, Former Texas Comptroller
Erick Erickson, Conservative Blogger and Radio Host
Andy Doyle, Episcopal Bishop of Texas
Tom Torkelson, Founder and CEO of IDEA Public Schools
Sara Cotner, Founder and CEO of Montessori For All
Jackie Schlegel-Polvado, Director of Texans for Vaccine Choice
Amber Mostyn, Political Donor
Jarvis Parsons, Brazos County District Attorney
Dawn Buckingham, Republican Candidate for Texas Senate District 24
Bryan Hughes, Republican Candidate for Texas Senate District 1
Check out the complete list of 150+ confirmed speakers here.
Registration for the Festival is open, and you can enjoy savings with our limited-time early bird rate. Students and educators interested in attending will be happy to know that there are discounts available just for them. We can’t wait to see you at the Festival!
Festival 101
May 17, 2016, 11:26 a.m.
Though the spring semester is coming to an end, students and educators will want to make sure the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival is on their calendars before summer kicks off.
From Sept. 23-25, you’ll have the chance to engage with some of the biggest names and brains in politics and public policy at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Join more than 150 exciting speakers at compelling panels, as discussions take on issues near and dear to Texas and the U.S.
Highlights from our speaker list so far include:
Former state Sen. Wendy Davis
Lance Armstrong, former professional cyclist and cancer survivor
Henry Louis Gates Jr., historian and filmmaker
Steve Kornacki, MSNBC host
Sarah Isgur Flores, deputy manager for Carly Fiorina’s presidential campaign
Also at the Festival, there will be opportunities to network, lively receptions and an array of award-winning food trucks. Students can enjoy added perks, including a Pre-Festival Student Summit, a live TribCast recording and the dedicated Student Lounge.
Of course, playing a part in shaping the future of Texas is no minor task. That’s why The Texas Tribune is offering a special registration rate of $50 for students and educators. Click here to secure your tickets and learn more.
Franklin Barbecue Feast
May 13, 2016, 12:01 a.m.
Join us Thursday, Sept. 22, for a pre-Festival exclusive you won’t want to miss.
Enjoy world-class barbecue, cold beer, sweet tea and a compelling conversation about journalism and politics between Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron and Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith. Baron led The Boston Globe during its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Catholic Church’s molestation scandal, which inspired the Academy Award-winning film “Spotlight.”
Pick up your ticket to this special dinner, which includes all-you-can-eat barbecue and beer, with your registration for the Festival. Tickets are very limited, so don’t miss out!
Presented by the Monument Group
New Speakers Announced
May 9, 2016, 9:26 a.m.
We’ve just added some exciting new speakers to the Festival line-up, including:
Lance Armstrong, Former Professional Cyclist and Cancer Survivor
Tom Davis, Former U.S. Representative, R-Virginia
Mike Morath, Texas Education Commissioner
Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta
State Rep. Tony Dale, R-Cedar Park
Donna Bahorich, Chairwoman of the Texas State Board of Education
Paul Cruz, Superintendent of the Austin Independent School District
Mike Feinberg, Co-Founder of KIPP
Jeffrey Goldberg, National Correspondent for The Atlantic
Steven Goode, Professor and Chair of Campus Carry Working Group at the University of Texas at Austin
Sarah Isgur Flores, Deputy Campaign Manager, Carly for America
Jason Johnson, Chief Strategist, Cruz for President
Rob Johnson, Senior Adviser, Perry for President
John Weaver, Senior Strategist, Kasich for America
Doug Deason, Political Donor
Aimee Boone Cunningham, Political Donor
Toby Neugebauer, Political Donor
In addition to the above, we have 150+ confirmed speakers, including former Mexican President Vicente Fox; Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post (whom you can join at a special event at Franklin Barbecue); former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis; energy magnate T. Boone Pickens; and historian and filmmaker Henry Louis Gates Jr. and more.
Take advantage of our early-bird rate and attend for less! Plus, students and educators can enjoy additional savings — or volunteer and attend for free. We can’t wait to see you at the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival!
SPECIAL OFFER FOR TEXAS TRIBUNE MEMBERS
April 28, 2016, 6 a.m.
Members of The Texas Tribune not only help fund our nonpartisan, nonprofit newsroom, they also make possible events like the annual Texas Tribune Festival!
Texas Tribune members receive a special discount of $50 off the Festival registration price. To receive your discount code, complete this form or email membership@texastribune.org if you have any questions.
Want to become a member? To get the most out of the Festival and receive a year's worth of enticing benefits, visit our membership page here and help support our Spring Member Drive, happening now through Friday, May 5.
REGISTER NOW
April 19, 2016, 5:50 p.m.
The registration desk for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival is now open and we’re proud to announce the first 100+ confirmed speakers, with many more to come as we lead up to the Fest!
Speakers at the 2016 Festival will include historian and filmmaker Henry Louis Gates, Jr., former President of Mexico Vicente Fox, energy magnate T. Boone Pickens, conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, along with more than 100 other thought-leaders from around the state and across the nation. Check out the full list of speakers here.
And don’t miss out on the special Thursday night feast at Franklin Barbecue, featuring a conversation with Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post and one of the subjects of Spotlight, the 2016 Oscar winner for Best Picture. An extra $250 ticket is required for the event, which includes all-you-can-eat barbecue and beer. Purchase your ticket when you register for the Festival.
Featured speakers confirmed for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival include:
Allen West, Executive Director of the National Center for Policy Analysis and former U.S. Representative, R-Florida
Bill Richardson, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Former New Mexico Governor
Martin Baron, Executive Editor of The Washington Post
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston
Eva Guzman, Texas Supreme Court Justice
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio
Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville
John Cassidy, Staff Writer for The New Yorker
Ryan Crocker, Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo
Gregory Fenves, President of the University of Texas at Austin
Antonio Garza, Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Nathan Hecht, Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller
Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent of the Dallas Independent School District
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-San Antonio
Asa Hutchinson, Governor of Arkansas
Bob Inman, Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs
Renu Khator, Chancellor for the University of Houston System and President of the University of Houston
Steve Kornacki, Host of MSNBC’s Up with Steve Kornacki
Oscar Leeser, Mayor of El Paso
Nelda Martinez, Mayor of Corpus Christi
Susan McDowell, Executive Director of LifeWorks
Sid Miller, Texas Agriculture Commissioner
Jay Newton-Small, Washington Correspondent for Time
U.S. Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble
Betsy Price, Mayor of Fort Worth
Mike Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas
Ivy Taylor, Mayor of San Antonio
Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston
And more than 100 others. Check out all the speakers for the 2016 Texas Tribune Festival here.
Save the Date: Sept. 23-25, 2016!
Feb. 1, 2016, 5 p.m.
Mark your calendars! The sixth-annual Texas Tribune Festival will be held Sept. 23-25, 2016 on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
To receive updates when registration opens, speaker announcements, volunteer opportunities and much more, sign up for our email list.
Stay tuned for more exciting announcements on all we have in store for TTF 2016!
A Look Back at #TTF 2015
Oct. 28, 2015, 3:12 p.m.
From lively political discussions in each Festival panel to exciting special events throughout the weekend, the fifth-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 featured keynote sessions, including our opening keynote with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, our closing keynote with the Honorable Julián Castro, an interview with U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and many other panel discussions listed below.
One on One with Dan Patrick Featuring Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith
Big Cities, Big Challenges Featuring mayors Steve Adler, Nelda Martinez, Annise Parker and Ivy Taylor in conversation with Texas Standard host David Brown
Can the Center Hold? Featuring former U.S. Sens. Evan Bayh and Kay Bailey Hutchison; former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros; and John H. Sununu, a former Governor of New Hampshire and White House chief of staff, in conversation with Sirius XM’s Julie Mason
One on One with Joe Straus Featuring Texas House Speaker Joe Straus in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith
Homeland Security Begins at Home Featuring U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro, Henry Cuellar, Blake Farenthold, Beto O’Rourke and John Ratcliffe in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Julián Aguilar
One on One with Nancy Pelosi Featuring U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Abby Livingston
Their Last Sine Die Featuring state Reps. Joe Farias, Patricia Harless and Jim Keffer in conversation with The Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg
America’s Place in the World Featuring U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul in conversation with The New Yorker’s Lawrence Wright
You’re Welcome, America: Texas in 2050 A presentation by Steve Murdock, former state demographer and former director of the U.S. Census Bureau
One on One with Lawrence Lessig Featuring 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Lawrence Lessig in conversation with The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty
Really, How Conservative Was the 84th Session? Featuring state Sens. Paul Bettencourt and Konni Burton and state Reps. Stephanie Klick, Matt Rinaldi and Jonathan Stickland in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith
Make 2016 Great Again Featuring The New York Times’ Amy Chozick, Snapchat’s Peter Hamby, The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza and The Washington Post’s David Weigel in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith
One on One with Julián Castro Featuring the honorable Julián Castro in conversation with The Texas Tribune’s Evan Smith
