The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership and open-minded dialogue. Through seminars, policy programs, conferences and leadership development initiatives, the Institute and its international partners seek to promote nonpartisan inquiry and an appreciation for timeless values.
The Institute is headquartered in Washington, DC, and has campuses in Aspen and New York City. Its international network includes partner Aspen Institutes in Berlin, Rome, Lyon, Tokyo, New Delhi, and Bucharest, and leadership initiatives in Africa, Central America and India.
Aspen Ideas Festival
The Aspen Ideas Festival brings together scholars, philosophers, entrepreneurs, world leaders, and other important personalities to discuss ideas and issues that shape the world around us. Sponsored by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic, the annual event is sure to inspire provocative thinking and action from around the world.
The mission of the Aspen Ideas Festival is to bring together critically minded leaders in business, politics, sciences, humanities, philanthropy, and the arts to share ideas, raise questions and inspire thought. More than 350 presenters, 200 sessions, and more than 3,000 attendees make the journey to Aspen for the annual festival, which began in 2005.
2021 Aspen Ideas Festival
In 2021, Aspen Ideas Festival returns as a virtual event. The festival will incorporate four nights of digital programming with new interactive sessions introduced during the day. The overarching theme will be "American Futures," exploring issues ranging from democracy to science, the United States's role on the world stage, and inequality.
Organizers will be monitoring public health guidelines throughout the spring in hopes of adding a live component to the 2021 Aspen Ideas Festival.