The Atlantic Across America: Announcing Events in Every State
In a moment that echoes the sentiments of Ralph Waldo Emerson from the very first issue of *The Atlantic* published 168 years ago, the magazine is embarking on a nationwide initiative called *The Atlantic Across America*. This event series, which kicks off in Boston, aims to engage with audiences across all 50 states over the next three years, addressing critical issues that resonate with American life today—much like Emerson’s reflections on the challenges of information overload and the search for stability. The series will spotlight a range of topics, including the ideals of American democracy, cultural dynamics, technology, and environmental concerns, with a commitment to partnering with local and nonprofit newsrooms that are making significant contributions to their communities.
The inaugural event, featuring a sold-out audience in Boston, includes discussions with *The Atlantic*’s editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, *On Point* host Meghna Chakrabarti, and Congressman Jake Auchincloss. They will delve into themes from the magazine’s special November issue titled “The Unfinished Revolution,” which examines the history and lessons of America’s founding era in light of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation. This initiative not only aims to connect with existing readers but also seeks to introduce *The Atlantic* to new audiences, enhancing its reach and influence in the contemporary media landscape. Upcoming events are set to take place in various cities, including Phoenix, Miami, and New Orleans, with a focus on fostering meaningful dialogue around both local and national issues.
This tour marks a significant expansion of *The Atlantic*’s outreach, reflecting the magazine’s commitment to engaging its readers more deeply. Over the past decade, *The Atlantic* has seen substantial growth, recently adding 50 new positions to its newsroom and achieving record subscriber numbers and revenue. In a notable move to support education, the magazine has also begun offering free digital subscriptions to every public high school in the U.S., providing access to its extensive archive and journalism to nearly 1,300 institutions. As *The Atlantic* embarks on this ambitious journey across America, it seeks not only to celebrate its rich history but also to contribute to the ongoing discourse around the American experience in today’s complex and ever-evolving world.
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
