Our Lineup: First Look

Bryan StevensonFounder & Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative
John BoltonFormer US National Security Advisor & Former US Ambassador to the U.N.
José AndrésChef, Restaurateur, Author & Founder, World Central Kitchen
Katherine MaherPresident & CEO, NPR
Sam SandersHost, The Sam Sanders Show, KCRW
Samantha PowerFormer United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Choose Your Festival Experience

At The WBUR Festival, our fans from near and far come together to do what we do best. Grapple with consequential issues. Listen deeply. And have lots of fun, too.

Prices reflect early bird discounts — grab your ticket now before rates go up.

VIP

$279

Access to all events
Complimentary parking for Friday & Saturday
Entry to the VIP lounge, where the food and drink will be flowing all day
Early access and premium seating for keynote events
VIP swag

Prices do not include transaction fees

Two-Day

$199

Access to events on both Friday and Saturday.

Prices do not include transaction fees

One-Day

$119

Access to events on either Friday or Saturday. You pick.

Prices do not include transaction fees

Student

$24

Access to events on Friday and Saturday with a student email address.^*

Prices do not include transaction fees

All proceeds from The WBUR Festival support our mission to produce high-quality journalism and enriching experiences that deepen understanding, connection and community for an expanding circle of people.

^* Boston University students are eligible for free Festival tickets with an RSVP and their BU email address.

About The WBUR Festival

Join us for lively conversations, podcast tapings, musical performances and plenty of surprises. Just like year one, it’ll be serious stuff — and wicked fun, too.

In 2025, our lineup featured over 200 speakers with big stories to tell, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert; Ina Garten, cookbook author and television host; and Roxane Gay, New York Times-bestselling author of Bad Feminist. Plus friends from WBUR and NPR, like On Point’s Meghna Chakrabarti and Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’s Peter Sagal.

You just had to be there. And you won’t want to miss year two.