The Atlantic Across America: Announcing Events in Every State
In a remarkable homage to its historical roots, *The Atlantic* is launching an extensive event series titled *The Atlantic Across America*, marking the magazine’s return to its birthplace in Boston. This initiative, which aims to engage audiences in all 50 states, is particularly timely as it echoes the sentiments expressed by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the magazine’s inaugural issue 168 years ago, where he lamented an overwhelming tide of information in a rapidly changing society. In today’s context, with American life feeling similarly disoriented, *The Atlantic* seeks to provide a platform for dialogue on pressing issues that shape the nation’s identity, including democracy, technology, culture, and the environment. Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg emphasized the magazine’s commitment to the ideals of the American experience, noting that the 250th anniversary of America’s founding presents an opportune moment to connect with both current and future readers.
The series kicked off with a sold-out event in Boston, featuring prominent figures such as Goldberg, *On Point* host Meghna Chakrabarti, and Congressman Jake Auchincloss. This inaugural gathering delved into themes from *The Atlantic*’s special November issue, “The Unfinished Revolution,” which reflects on the enduring legacy of America’s founding era and the lessons learned throughout its 250-year journey. The event was designed not only to engage attendees in meaningful conversations but also to forge connections with local and nonprofit newsrooms that are making significant contributions to journalism. Upcoming events in cities like Phoenix, Miami, New Orleans, and Salt Lake City are set to further this mission, with details on ticketing and participation to be announced soon.
*The Atlantic Across America* is part of a broader strategy to deepen the magazine’s engagement with its audience, attract new subscribers, and extend its journalistic reach. Over the past decade, *The Atlantic* has seen significant growth, expanding its editorial team and achieving record subscriber numbers. This fall, the magazine also launched a commendable initiative offering free digital subscriptions to every public high school in the U.S., providing nearly 1,300 schools with access to its rich archive and contemporary journalism. As *The Atlantic* embarks on this ambitious tour, it reaffirms its role as a vital voice in American discourse, fostering a sense of community and shared understanding across diverse regions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYNn8CM0j-o
In
The Atlantic
’s first issue, published 168 years ago in Boston, Ralph Waldo Emerson
wrote
about an
information overload
at a time when American life felt unmoored: “In this kingdom of illusions we grope eagerly for stays and foundations.”
Tonight
The Atlantic
returns to its birthplace to launch an event series,
The Atlantic
Across America
, that will eventually take it to all 50 states––at a moment in the country that Emerson could just as well be describing. Across the next three years,
The Atlantic
will hold events with its journalists in cities in every state to talk about the range of issues and ideas that the magazine covers, including the ideals of American democracy, the current administration, culture, technology, the environment, and more. Many events will be in partnership with local and nonprofit newsrooms that are doing exceptional work, and will consider local and national issues.
“
The Atlantic
was founded to be the magazine of the American idea, and we try to live up to that mandate today,” said Jeffrey Goldberg, the magazine’s editor in chief. “The 250th anniversary of America’s founding represents an excellent moment to visit our readers, and our future readers, across the country.”
The series’s
inaugural sold-out event
, happening tonight in Boston in partnership with WBUR, features interviews with Goldberg,
On Point
host Meghna Chakrabarti, and Congressman Jake Auchincloss. The event will discuss themes from
The Atlantic
’s special November issue, “
The Unfinished Revolution
,” exploring 250 years of the American experiment and the history and lessons of the country’s founding era. Livestream tickets are available
here
, and are free for
Atlantic
subscribers.
The Atlantic
will hold events in the following cities in the first part of 2026; more details and ticketing will be announced. Readers can sign up for event updates
here
.
January: Phoenix; and Sante Fe, New Mexico
February: Miami
March: New Orleans; and Durham, North Carolina
April: Omaha, Nebraska
May: Salt Lake City
The Atlantic
Across America tour is part of the magazine’s broader efforts to engage more deeply with subscribers and readers, to reach new audiences, and to serve more areas with its journalism.
The Atlantic
has been significantly expanding its reach over the past decade and is a year into an editorial expansion that has added 50 newsroom jobs. The magazine continues to set new records for subscribers and overall revenue. This fall,
The Atlantic
began offering every
public U.S. high school
free digital subscriptions, and now nearly 1,300 high schools have free access to
The Atlantic
’s journalism and 168-year archive.
Press Contact
: Anna Bross, anna@theatlantic.com
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering General news.
