The 2026 Texas Tribune Festival recap

By Jolee Gavito and Kira Utter

News Reporters

AUSTIN – The Texas Tribune Festival, also known as TribFest, returned to downtown Austin the weekend of Sept. 24-26, 2026, for the 16th annual conference to date.

The Texas Tribune– a nonpartisan nonprofit media organization based in Austin– hosts TribFest to uncover both sides of an issue, encouraging friendly debate and further pursuing truth.

“The Tribune is derived from the idea that our society needs reliable, honest, fearless and fair information about the impact of government and politics on people’s lives,” according to CEO Sarah Alder Hartman in an opening letter in the TribFest program.

Over 100 programs were open to students, educators, politicians and journalists from publications across the country who were encouraged to share their ideas through enlightened conversation.

The three-day event conducted panels regarding the 2026 midterms, effects of artificial intelligence, immigration policies and civics.

Each panel consisted of one moderator and at least two speakers from opposing sides, ending with a Q&A session for the audience.

Guest speakers included politicians both from Texas and out-of-state, novel authors and professors.

State representatives James Talarico and Gina Hinajosa, former Georgia state representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel were all established as featured speakers.

Three different locations hosted panels for ticket holders to attend. The Omni Hotel served as the festival’s main area, with David’s Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church as secondary locations.

TribFest also provided many great opportunities for patrons to network, further connecting the community and promoting a multitude of ideas. Aside from the panels were a journalist meetup, a teachers’ lounge and student mixers.

Additionally, TribFest provided an outlet for people to connect with each other through documentary screenings at the Hyperreal Film Club, hosted by ATXplained with KUT and KUTX.

For more information about next year’s festival, visit the Texas Tribune Festival website.