Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, will deliver the opening keynote for the 2026 Smithsonian’s National Education Summit, the Institution’s signature three-day conference for educators. Her keynote will be livestreamed for preregistered participants Tuesday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. ET.
As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Gorman will explore how poetry can shape civic understanding and inspire individuals to imagine and build a shared future. Her remarks will include a poetry reading.
“We are thrilled to welcome Amanda Gorman to open this year’s summit,” said Monique M. Chism, Ph.D., the Smithsonian’s Under Secretary for Education. “At a time when we are reflecting on our nation’s shared story, her voice offers a powerful catalyst for civic understanding. She reminds us that democracy is an active pursuit, and her work will inspire educators and learners alike.”
The 2026 National Education Summit takes place Tuesday, July 14, to Thursday, July 16, in Washington, D.C., and online. This year’s theme, “Together We Thrive: Towards a More Perfect Union,” invites educators to reflect on Americans’ shared story and imagine the future they want to build together. The summit offers free professional development, practical classroom strategies, Smithsonian resources and opportunities to connect with educators nationwide.
Featured Session Track and New Session Added
Gorman’s keynote anchors a three-day agenda organized around four curated session tracks designed to bring history, civic dialogue and the arts into the classroom. On opening day, Gorman’s keynote is followed by the “Leveraging the Arts as Civic Voice” track, with sessions including:
- Photos in Conversation, Then, Now, and Us at noon ET, presents tools to support student voice through the analysis of historical photographs and creation of multimedia portraits capturing the communities around them.
- Stories That Hold Us Together: Cultivating Civic Action Through Community and Storytelling at 1 p.m. ET, spotlights a unique cross-age collaboration across kindergarteners and high school students grounded in storytelling and expression through the arts.
- Stories 4-History: Fostering Civic Voice and Community Engagement through Film at 2 p.m. ET, focuses on a multi-step storytelling process designed to encourage active, student-centered civic participation.
- MORE COLORS THAN THE EYE CAN SEE: The Art of Jeffrey Gibson at 3 p.m. ET, introduces classroom-ready resources for making contemporary Indigenous art accessible and easy to bring to the classroom, alongside hands-on art-making lessons.
In addition, the Smithsonian has added a new session to the agenda, hosted in collaboration with the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology. The in-person, hands-on workshop, “Reimagining the Classroom as a Space to Practice Being Human,” is taking place Thursday, July 16, at 9 a.m. in Washington. Registration is free, but space is limited.
The summit provides a timely opportunity for educators to engage with new ideas, tools and perspectives during this historic anniversary year. For full session details and free registration, visit the summit website.
About the Smithsonian’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education
The Smithsonian Institution’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education (OUSE) advances the Smithsonian’s mission to increase and diffuse knowledge through educational leadership, research and collaboration. OUSE works across the Smithsonian’s museums, research centers and programs to develop and share high-quality educational resources, professional learning opportunities and partnerships that support teaching and learning nationwide. Through its work, OUSE helps connect learners of all ages to the Smithsonian’s collections, scholarship and expertise.