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USA

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5:30 PM-10:00 PM, EST

Night of Ideas 2026: Enlightenment Now! Independence at 250

Panel Discussion & Cultural Forum|International speakers, artistic performances, and transatlantic dialogue in Washington, D.C.

  • NYU Washington, DC, Washington, DC

  • English
  • Free of charge
  • Part of series: The Art of Freedom
Register here

Quadratische Eventgrafik zur „Night of Ideas 2026“ in Washington, D.C. auf leuchtend blauem Hintergrund mit abstrakten kreisförmigen Formen. In großer gelber Schrift steht zentral „Night of Ideas“. Darunter befinden sich die Texte „Enlightenment Now! Independence at 250“, das Veranstaltungsdatum „Thursday, May 7th“, die Uhrzeit „5:30pm–10:00pm“ sowie der Veranstaltungsort „New York University, Washington, D.C., The Brademas Center of NYU, 1307 L St NW, Washington, DC 20005“. Am unteren Rand befinden sich grafische Elemente sowie die Logos von EUNIC und TAoF. © Litoral Casa Creativa

Wide event graphic in The Art of Freedom design for Night of Ideas: Enlightenment Now! Independence at 250. The graphic includes the event date, time, and location, along with a brief note about panels, artistic performances, and civic dialogue. The EUNIC and TAoF logos appear at the bottom. © Litoral Casa Creativa

Night of Ideas 2026 brings together leading voices from culture, politics, academia, and innovation for an evening of discussion, artistic performances, and civic exchange in Washington, D.C. Under the theme “Enlightenment Now! Independence at 250,” the event reflects on the legacy of the Enlightenment and the democratic challenges shaping the next 250 years.

The evening centers around two major conversations. “The Museum of the Future” explores how museums are evolving as democratic, sustainable, and globally connected spaces. The second panel, “What Does It Mean to Be Human Today?”, examines artificial intelligence, human dignity, freedom, and democratic responsibility in a rapidly changing world.

In addition to high-level panels, the program includes live artistic performances, a short film screening, contributions by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and opportunities for public discussion with speakers and partner organizations. Hosted at the NYU Washington, D.C. John Brademas Center, the event is part of the official America250 cultural initiative.