Early bird tickets are on sale to WBUR Members now! Members receive 20% off tickets through December 31, 2024 with the Members-only code found in your email.
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MAY 29 - 31, 2025
BOSTON, MA
Where the speakers are always on.
Learn
About
Imagine if The New Yorker Festival and the Aspen Ideas Festival had a baby — one with a Boston accent and Big Papi’s swagger. That’s The WBUR Festival, coming in 2025. We’re celebrating WBUR's 75th birthday with a big bash for the city we love. And we hope you'll join us.
Our three-day lineup, May 29 - 31, 2025, will be a convergence of fascinating people grappling with the most consequential issues of our time. The biggest speakers, the most captivating conversations, musical performances, multiple stages, memorable food and a lively street scene. It will be serious stuff, and wicked fun, too.
Public tickets to The WBUR Festival will go on sale in early 2025. If you haven't already, sign up for our events email to be the first to know about early-bird pricing, speaker announcements and more.
Plan
Schedule
THURSDAY
Thursday, May 29
The WBUR Festival kicks off with two special events, NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! and a discussion with chef Eric Ripert and conductor of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart. Separate tickets required.
Schedule of Events
Perfect Pairings with chef Eric Ripert and Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart
5:00 PM
Boston University campus, Center for Computing & Data Sciences
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
7:30 PM
Boch Center - Wang Theatre
FRIDAY
Friday, May 30
Friday activities start at 9:00 AM on the Boston University campus and include all day sessions, activities and keynotes, followed by our annual fundraising gala.
Full schedule of events to follow.
Schedule of Events
Festival Programming
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Boston University campus
The WBUR Anniversary Bash - Celebrating 75 Years of Life Out Loud
6:00 PM
Boston University campus, FitRec Center
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SATURDAY
Saturday, May 31
Join us for a full day of events, including keynote sessions, fireside chats, a KidsStage featuring Circle Round, a lively street fair, and a closing party.
Full schedule of events to follow.
Schedule of Events
Festival Programming
10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Boston University campus
KidStage
Featuring Circle Round and a full day of programming and activities.
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Boston University campus, George Sherman Union
ATTEND
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are on sale to WBUR Members now! Members of WBUR and the Boston University community receive a 20% discount on tickets* through December 31, 2024. To purchase Member tickets please visit our ticketing page and enter the code sent to you via email or postcard.
*Discount does not apply to individual Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! tickets or to The WBUR Anniversary Bash.
VIP - $500
(Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Includes*:
- Front orchestra ticket to Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!
- Friday and Saturday sessions and activities
- Fast-pass line access
- Premium seating
- Access to the VIP Lounge which includes complimentary food and beverage
- VIP-only swag bag
*Does not include access to Perfect Pairings or The WBUR Anniversary Bash
Add-on ticket options:
Perfect Pairings - $50
(Thursday, May 29 @ 5:00 PM)
Celebrate the opening of the festival with us at a special conversation between celebrity chef Eric Ripert and conductor of The Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart. Drinks and light refreshments to be served. Event starts at 5:00 PM on the Boston University campus.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! - $35 - $75
(Thursday, May 29 @ 7:30 PM)
Join us for a live taping of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Event starts at 7:30 PM at The Boch Center - Wang Theatre.
The WBUR Anniversary Bash - $1,000
(Friday, May 30 @ 6:00 PM)
Join us on Friday night for a celebration of WBUR's first 75 years! Dinner, drinks and special guests included.
Participate
Speaker and Session Suggestions
Have a speaker or session idea that you think would be great at The WBUR Festival? Please fill out the form below and a member of the programming team will get back to you.
Please note that The WBUR Festival is solely responsible for all programming decisions.
LEARN
SPEAKERS & PODCASTS
Learn
Speakers
WBUR Festival speakers and podcasts will be announced on a rolling basis; we recommend signing up for the WBUR Events newsletter to stay up to date on all Festival speaker announcements.
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