Events

Join the Global Conversation

Featured Events

Hybrid EVENT

Abiding Hunger: Why Food Insecurity Persists in America

Volunteers sort through food donations at the St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix, AZ on June 29, 2022.

Devita Davison, Amy Laboy, Roger Thurow, and Catherine Bertini examine why food insecurity persists despite America’s extraordinary abundance and what can be done to expand reliable access to food.

"Vote Here" signs lining a sidewalk outside a voting location.

The Global Stakes of America's Midterms

Virtual EVENT

A general view of the US Capitol on June 23, 2023.

America's Place in the World: Global Volatility and Authoritarianism

Hybrid EVENT

More Upcoming Events

A path in the ice is left in the wake of the Finnish icebreaker MSV Nordica as it travels through the Northwest Passage through the Franklin Strait in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago on July 22, 2017.

Sea Change: A Conversation with Rana Foroohar on the Race for the Arctic

Hybrid EVENT

Rana Foroohar and Leslie Vinjamuri discuss how a rapidly changing Arctic is creating a new frontier for global competition and American power.

The top of the US capitol photographed from in between two tree branches on September 2, 2026.

A House Divided? American Foreign Policy After the Midterms

Hybrid EVENT

John Ikenberry, Charles Kupchan, Adam Posen and Leslie Vinjamuri discuss how the 2026 midterms will shape the direction of US foreign policy and America’s role in the world in the months ahead.

A sign reading "Wall Street" hangs in the New York subway.

How to Win a Trade War

Hybrid EVENT Global Economy Dialogue Series

Soumaya Keynes, Brent Neiman, and Kyla Scanlon unpack the new rules of global economic competition.

David Lammy signing a note on UK-Cyprus relations on July 4, 2025.

Redefining Britain's Identity for an Age of Change: A Conversation with David Lammy

Hybrid EVENT

Former UK Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy joins Leslie Vinjamuri to discuss the forces transforming Britain and the nation’s place in an uncertain world.

Where your world and the world meet.

Council events explore diverse perspectives on global issues and put our audiences, in Chicago and online, at the heart of important conversations with global leaders, influencers, and changemakers.

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Event Experience

Deepen Your Understanding

Expand your worldview with expert insights and diverse perspectives. Our events connect you with those at the forefront, giving you the context and knowledge to navigate an ever-changing world.

Bring Your Voice

Ask thoughtful questions, challenge ideas, and exchange perspectives with the speakers on our stage. At the Council, discussions are interactive, and your voice helps shape the global future.

Expand Your Network

Council event attendees are interested and invested in the world around us. Meet new people, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections with your globally-conscious peers.

[The Council] is a unique, outstanding opportunity to learn about US/global relations and participate in the future of our country. Few cities, if any, can offer such mind-expanding experiences to all its citizens.”

— Council Event Attendee

Watch Past Event Video

PAST EVENT VIDEO

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs Hosts a Conversation on NATO's Future with Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ambassador Matthew G. Whitaker

Three people sit in chairs while speaking into microphones

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, US Permanent Representative to NATO Ambassador Matthew G. Whitaker, and Leslie Vinjamuri convene in Iowa to discuss the future of the alliance and what it means for Americans at home.