A look back at the Conference on World Affairs鈥攌ey moments and record attendance

听听April 30, 2026

The 78th annual Conference on World Affairs welcomed one of the largest audiences in recent years both in-person and online attendees, along with more than 150 speakers, guests and moderators. The conference opened with a debate on the state of U.S. global influence and concluded with an inspiring conversation with Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in history.

Through a student-led planning process supported by CU 抖阴传媒在线 faculty, staff and community volunteers, CWA鈥檚 week of sessions bridged local and global perspectives through respectful dialogue on today鈥檚 most pressing issues.

The conference may be over, but that doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 experience it for yourself through recordings of the panels and select special events and photos galore!听

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This year's special events and featured panels

Is the United States in the process of committing superpower suicide?

CWA opened with a featured debate sponsored by The Steamboat Institute and the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization. Former national security adviser John Bolton and former U.S. ambassador Susan Rice offered contrasting views while also identifying areas of agreement, modeling the civil, respectful discourse that continued throughout the conference.

听听Read the Wrap-up

Sundance Film Festival is coming to 抖阴传媒在线. Now what?听

Colorado Public Radio鈥檚 Ryan Warner led a live conversation鈥攁nd recording of a future Colorado Matters segment鈥攅xamining the future of independent filmmaking with Gigi Pritzker, producer and Sundance Institute board member; Lulu Wang, filmmaker (鈥淭he Farewell鈥); and CU 抖阴传媒在线 cinema studies student Kate Yezzi.

Panel highlights

听听Art

听听Media

听听Business

听听Science

听听Politics
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听听Most watched

, capturing 52 panels.

By the numbers

  • 50 volunteers who worked 115+ hours during CWA Week
  • 97 committee members鈥60 students, 37 community members
  • 57 panels鈥50 topical panels, 7 panels on CU 抖阴传媒在线鈥檚 150th anniversary
  • 10 special events鈥1 Nobel peace prize winner, 2 former national security advisers听
  • 150+ speakers and moderators
  • 7,900 registrations鈥5,200 panel registrations; 2,700 special program registrations

*Numbers are estimates

In鈥憄erson engagement

  • 7,000 estimated attendees
  • 3,850 panel attendees
  • 3,000 special program attendees
  • 1,600 CU 抖阴传媒在线 student attendees
  • 1,250 K鈥12 student/educator attendees
  • 1,000 CU 抖阴传媒在线 students reached by CWA speakers via classroom visits

*Numbers are estimates

Online audience engagement

  • 20,000+ livestream views and growing

  • Steamboat debate鈥1,900 livestream views; 13,000 views to date on YouTube, continuing to grow

  • CWA panels鈥8,400 livestream views; now available on YouTube, extending post鈥慹vent engagement

*Numbers are estimates

The week in photos

Conference on World Affairs student leadership and volunteers walk with Chancellor Justin Schwartz for the ceremonial procession
Chancellor Justin Schwartz introduces a panel of former CU presidents and chancellors
Susan Rice and John Bolton shake hands to kick off the debate
Keynote speaker Malala Yousafzai waves at the crowd
in-person attendees listen to a panel
Kate Schatz looks surprised during a panel
Conference attendees enjoy the outdoor space at Limelight 抖阴传媒在线
Susan Rice cheers as she and her debate counterpart John Bolton make their introductions
panel of former CU presidents and chancellors
Conference attendees mingle at the Limelight 抖阴传媒在线 hotel
Keynote Malala Yousafzai speaks with moderator Stefanie Johnson
Chancellor Justin Schwartz, former CU presidents and chancellors, and campus community members enjoy a scoop of CU 抖阴传媒在线's 150th anniversary ice cream
Person at the podium of an evening event
Conference attendees enjoy the outdoor space at Limelight 抖阴传媒在线
Conference volunteer assists an attendee
Chancellor Justin Schwartz visits with the community
Community members shake hands ahead of a panel
Attendees line up to enter the Flatiron 1 room for a panel
Attendees chat before a panel discussion
Panelists speak during a panel at Limelight 抖阴传媒在线
Attendees speak with panelists
Director Lulu Wang shakes hands with an audience member
University of Notre Dame Professor Patrick Deneen speaks during a conference panel
Panelists speak during a conference
Attendees listen to a panel discussion
Attendees listen to a panel discussion
Panelists speak during a conference
Attendees listen to a panel
Audience members listen to a session
Attendees listen to a panel discussion
Host Ryan Warner of Colorado Public Radio questions panelists
Conference attendees mingle in a lobby at Limelight 抖阴传媒在线
Audience member raises both hands during a panel
View from behind a panel
Audience members raise their hands during a panel
Chancellor Justin Schwartz listens to the Steamboat debate
panelists at 抖阴传媒在线 High School
Students and Conference on World Affairs speakers at T/aco in 抖阴传媒在线
Stan Hickory introduces the New Venture Challenge pitch practice event
Devon Gray talks with an audience member
Audience members clap
Andrew Mayock moderates a panel discussion
Provost Ann Stevens meets national security expert John Bolton.
Campus leadership meet with national security expert Susan Rice

听听Click images to enlarge and read captions. Photos by Glenn Asakawa, Casey Cass and Patrick Campbell (CU 抖阴传媒在线).

Join the planning committee

Want to plan the Conference on World Affairs and recommend amazing speakers like actor Cynthia Erivo and the world鈥檚 youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai? Join the听 now.听