The Richmond Forum

10/09/2026

Cher.

One name, 60 years, and a body of work that has touched hearts, defined generations, and stood the test of time.

She has sold 140 million records worldwide, won an Oscar, and become the only solo artist with a No. 1 hit in each of the last seven decades. Throughout her career, she has paved the way for women and all people to live boldly, speak their truth, and have the courage to be exactly who they are.

The fierce, unstoppable artist will share the stories, lessons, and philosophy behind a life that has never once been inhibited by what others expected.

Join the audience for "Turning Back Time" on April 17 at the Altria Theater and four other engaging programs with a 2026-2027 season membership to The Richmond Forum. Options start at $145 for the entire season. Learn more at https://www.richmondforum.org/.

10/08/2026

Artificial intelligence is coming for the classroom, and for many, that is a deeply unsettling thought.

Will students stop thinking for themselves?

Will teachers become obsolete?

Will our curiosity silently erode?

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy and a pioneer in accessible digital learning, has heard every concern and is not dismissing them. But he believes this moment is too important to meet with fear.

Drawing on decades of innovation and platforms serving millions worldwide, Khan will make the case that AI, used well, can personalize learning, expand access, and unlock human potential on a scale that, until now, we could only dream of.

Join the audience for "Classroom Reboot" on March 20 at the Altria Theater and four other engaging programs with a 2026-2027 season membership to The Richmond Forum. Options start at $145 for the entire season. Learn more at https://www.richmondforum.org/.

10/06/2026

The world’s longest undefended border has long been a meeting place rather than a dividing line, but that distinction is being tested.

Tariffs, climate imperatives, and competing priorities have strained the relationship between the United States and Canada in ways that affect both sides of the 49th parallel.

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, former Prime Minister of Canada, knows better than anyone that being a good neighbor can be harder than it looks. Having spent a decade at the helm during some of modern history’s most consequential moments, he will offer a candid reflection of what leadership in trying times entails.

Join the audience for "Oh, Canada!" on February 13 at the Altria Theater and four other engaging programs with a 2026-2027 season membership to The Richmond Forum. Options start at $145 for the entire season. Learn more at https://www.richmondforum.org/.

10/02/2026

Happiness should be simple.

So, why does it feel so hard?

We chase milestones like money, status, and the perfect vacation with the conviction that they will make us happier, only to find they rarely deliver.

Dr. Laurie Santos, the psychologist behind Yale University’s most popular course in history, “The Science of Well-Being,” has made it her life’s work to understand why our instincts about happiness so reliably lead us astray.

Incorporating the latest research in psychology, she will challenge our assumptions and offer practical, and sometimes counterintuitive, evidence-based strategies for building a life that actually feels as good as it looks.

Join the audience for "Why We're So Bad at Being Happy" on January 16 at the Altria Theater and four other engaging programs with a 2026-2027 season membership to The Richmond Forum. Options start at $145 for the entire season. Learn more at https://www.richmondforum.org/.

09/30/2026

The ground beneath the global economy is shifting, and the tremors are being felt everywhere.

Supply chains are remapping, alliances are fracturing, and competition for resources and capital is reaching a new intensity, all against a backdrop of deep uncertainty about what comes next.

Dr. Dambisa Moyo, economist, bestselling author, and member of the UK’s House of Lords, has spent her career mapping these fault lines. With profound expertise in macroeconomics and geopolitics, she will dissect the forces driving today’s trade realignments and offer an unflinching assessment of where the global economy is headed and what we all stand to gain or lose in the process.

"Tectonic Shifts in Global Trade" kicks off our 2026-2027 season on November 21 at the Altria Theater. Join the audience for this program and four others with a Richmond Forum membership, starting at $145 for the entire season. Learn more at https://www.richmondforum.org/.

09/14/2026

Gen Z and Gen Alpha Americans feel voiceless.

Participating in speech and debate just might be the antidote.

Read an op ed from Heather Crislip, The Forum's executive director, that addresses how these programs can uplift a generation.

In Style Weekly:

Participating in speech and debate is one antidote to the doubt and despair young Americans feel.

09/10/2026

𝗔𝗻 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟳 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻

Due to scheduling considerations, we have made a few adjustments to the schedule for our 2026-2027 season. Every date and speaker remains the same. Only the order has changed.

The updated schedule is:

November 21, 2026: Baroness Dambisa Moyo
January 16, 2027: Dr. Laurie Santos
February 13, 2027: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
March 20, 2027: Sal Khan
April 17, 2027: Cher

All member tickets will update automatically. We thank you for your flexibility.

We are glad to open the season with Baroness Dambisa Moyo's perspective on the global economy at a moment when audiences everywhere are hungry for a clear-eyed read on where trade and growth are headed.

We cannot wait to share this season with Richmond.

Memberships are on sale now at subscribe.richmondforum.org, with options starting at $145 for all five programs.

09/03/2026

"There is silence in all of our silence. When we see something that isn't fair or isn't right, we need to speak up."

- Gloria Steinem at The Richmond Forum on February 19, 2022

Today, we are remembering the wisdom Gloria Steinem shared in her conversation with Zainab Salbi on the Forum stage four years ago. She reflected on her lifelong activism, on progress's dependency on turning dreams into plans, and on the power of people coming together face-to-face to make change.

Were you in the audience for Steinem's "A Conversation with a Feminist Icon"? We would love to hear your own reflections.

07/23/2026

When Richmond hosted the National Speech and Debate Tournament, most of the local qualifiers were from Chesterfield County Public Schools. Whether experienced or new to nationals, they enjoyed their home-field advantage in the world’s largest academic competition.

Students from all 50 states and seven nations competed in 42 categories ranging from original oratory (a 10-minute prepared speech) to impromptu (presenting on a surprise topic).

Discover how speech and debate teams empower young voices and get to know remarkable students and coaches from Chesterfield County high schools by reading more at oneccps.org/o/ccps/article/3033564.

06/25/2026

Big ideas don’t take the summer off, and neither does The Forum.

Once again, we are partnering with VPM to bring the magic of The Richmond Forum straight to your living room. This summer, catch hour-long broadcast editions of three of our 2025 - 2026 season programs.

Catch a double feature tonight with Prime Minister Sanna Marin at 5pm and John Green at 8pm.

View the full schedule at https://www.richmondforum.org/insights/vpm2026/.