Events

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Featured Events

Hybrid EVENT

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

Sep

Hussein Malla / AP

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.

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Olbrich Gardens in Madison, WI on August 11, 2026.

The State of American Opinion: The 2026 Chicago Council Survey

Hybrid EVENT

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2025.

Can the World Still Make Peace? A Conversation with Thant Myint-U

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, 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.

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

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

Hybrid EVENT

Daniel Twining, Tamara Cofman Wittes, and Leslie Vinjamuri unpack how Republicans and Democrats see America's role in the world and how they want their country to engage in the world around them.

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

September 11 and the Remaking of American National Security

Lieutenant General Frank Kearney (Ret.), Kelly Magsamen, and Ari Tabatabai reflect on how the post-9/11 era transformed American warfare and continues to shape US national security 25 years later.