About The Forum

The Richmond Forum is the nation’s largest nonprofit speaker series, bringing the world’s most influential voices to the stage right here in Richmond.

Since 1987, we have presented five powerful programs each season, featuring past U.S. presidents, global leaders, Nobel laureates, bestselling authors, pioneering scientists, and cultural icons. Every program is designed to engage the mind, spark conversation, and elevate public discourse in our region.

Our Mission

To present powerful voices so Richmond can learn.

To empower local voices so Richmond can lead.

Our Vision

By elevating public discourse throughout the Richmond region, we can make our community a better place for all of its residents and a model for the nation.

A Legacy of Ideas, On Stage in Richmond

From Obama to Oprah, from Gorbachev to Spielberg, from Jane Goodall to Neil Armstrong—more than 240 distinguished individuals have shared their ideas and stories at The Richmond Forum.

See our full list of Richmond Forum speaker alumni.

What sets The Forum apart isn’t just the caliber of our speakers; it’s the caliber of our audience. Each event draws thousands of intellectually curious subscribers from across the region. Their passion for learning, their willingness to wrestle with hard questions, and their commitment to community make these evenings unforgettable.

As one speaker once asked in disbelief:
“All of these seats will be full tonight?”
Yes. They always are.

Our Subscription Model

The Richmond Forum is a subscription-based speaker series where you opt in to curiosity. Rather than selling individual event tickets, we offer season subscriptions, providing access to all five programs each year. Our season model invites you to hear perspectives you might not seek out on your own, and to become part of a community that values learning, dialogue, and discovery. It also allows us to give equal weight to global icons and rising voices alike, creating a season of ideas that surprises, challenges, and inspires.

Whether you join us in the theater, in our Simulcast Room, or online, your subscription gives you a front-row seat to conversations that matter.

“The Richmond Forum elevates the stature of the Richmond community to a world-class stage of ideas, an epicenter of civil discussion, political thought, scientific advancement, and outstanding artistry.”

– Forum subscriber

An Enduring Civic Tradition

Richmond has long been a city of civic engagement. From spirited salons and lecture halls to rallies, protests, and marches, we’ve never shied away from the big conversations. The Forum continues that tradition, offering a place where people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs come together to listen, question, and grow.

It’s because of Richmond that we are able to sustain such a beloved and vital institution. And it’s because of our community that The Forum has become a national model for what public discourse can be.

Read about The Forum’s history.