General Assembly: The Idea of America

The conventional wisdom that Americans are bound together by a set of ideas rather than a common bloodline or ancestral land is increasingly in contention. If the Declaration of Independence expresses our most profound commitments as a nation, how might we reimagine it for the 21st century, and what are the ideas that will bind us together as a people for generations to come? The Aspen Ideas Festival is the Aspen Institute’s signature summer public event. From June 25-July 1, 2026 business and civic leaders, innovators and artists, fellows, scholars, and attendees from around the world gathered in the Rocky Mountains. Engaging discussions unified by the Festival’s theme “Declarations of Independence” explore the issues of today, challenge perceptions of the past, and shape our shared future. #AspenIdeas For more information about the Aspen Ideas Festival, visit https://www.aspenideas.org.