Pittsburgh Speakers Series

06/19/2024

Happy Juneteenth! Celebrated since 1866, this day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021. Historian Annette Gordon-Reed was one of the integral voices who brought Juneteenth into the national conversation. We look forward to hearing from her as the third speaker in the 2024-2025 season.

05/03/2024

Andrew Lloyd Webber is said to be the first person from the world of the arts and culture to be made a member of the Order of the Garter – the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. We look forward to having Sir Lloyd Webber with us next season!

The composer said he was ‘humbled, grateful and, quite frankly, staggered’ to be made a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter.

04/10/2024

Explorer and filmmaker Céline Cousteau joins us for the final lecture of the 2023-2024 Pittsburgh Speakers Series!

03/21/2024

Announcing the 2024-2025 Season! Join us for seven events that will broaden your perspective and deepen your understanding of the world around you.

03/20/2024

Presidential historian Michael Beschloss is on stage at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts tonight!

02/29/2024

For the fifth lecture of the 2023-2024 season, Laurie Santos will share the secrets of the science of happiness! 😊

01/15/2024

Next week, we will welcome Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch to Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts for the fourth event of the 2024-2025 Pittsburgh Speakers Series.

12/03/2023

Remembering the life of Henry Kissinger, who spoke at the Pittsburgh Speakers Series in 2004.

11/16/2023

For the third event of the 2023-2024 season, we are happy to welcome former Congressman Adam Kinzinger to Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts!

10/25/2023

We welcome Jane Fonda to Heinz Hall this evening for the second event of the 2023-2024 Pittsburgh Speakers Series!

10/23/2023

ORDER TICKETS 2023-24 Speakers VAN JONES CNN Host & President of Magic Labs Media Wednesday, October 4, 2023 8pm Jones is a CNN host, political commentator, Emmy Award-winning producer, and author of three New York Times best-selling books. He is also a successful social entrepreneur, having founded...

10/20/2023

Academy Award-winning actor, author, producer, activist, and fitness guru Jane Fonda will join us at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts for the second event of the 2023-2024 season on Wednesday, October 25!

10/04/2023

Thrilled to be back at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts for the first lecture of the 2023-2024 Pittsburgh Speakers Series!
🎤 sound check

10/02/2023

Van Jones will open the 2023-2024 Pittsburgh Speakers Series season at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, October 4. Jane Fonda, who was originally scheduled, will join us on Wednesday, October 25.

09/07/2023

The first event of the 2023-2024 season is only a few weeks away. Renew or subscribe today!

07/07/2023

US Climate Envoy John Kerry is heading to China for talks on global warming as tensions simmer between Washington and Beijing. Kerry joined us on stage at Heinz Hall during the 2019-2020 Season.

The visit follows trips by Janet Yellen and Antony Blinken, and faces complications due to broader tensions over Taiwan and chip curbs.

04/13/2023

Announcing the extraordinary speaker lineup for the 2023-2024 Pittsburgh Speakers Series! Information and tickets: PittsburghSpeakers.org

ORDER TICKETS 2022-23 Speakers LORETTA LYNCH Former U.S. Attorney General Wednesday, September 21, 2022 8pm An influential prosecutor, Lynch, appointed by President Obama in 2015, was the first female African American and the second female U.S. Attorney General. As the head of the U.S. Attorney’s ...

04/12/2023

We’re at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts for our sixth lecture of the season - death row exoneree Anthony Ray Hinton. We will also be announcing our outstanding 2023-2024 season lineup!

03/26/2023

Paul Rusesabagina, who spoke at the Pittsburgh Speakers Series in the 2008-2009 season and inspired the Hollywood film “Hotel Rwanda,” has been released from prison in Rwanda after his sentence was commuted by the country’s President Paul Kagame.

Paul Rusesabagina, who inspired the Hollywood film "Hotel Rwanda," was released from prison in Rwanda after his prison sentence was commuted Friday by the country's President Paul Kagame.

02/07/2023

The Pittsburgh Speakers Series notes the passing of ex-Pakistan leader Pervez Musharraf, who spoke for us during the 2009-2010 season.

Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup and later led a reluctant Pakistan into aiding the U.S. war in Afghanistan against the Taliban, has died. He was 79.

02/02/2023

Patrons enjoyed cocktails, good company, and a performance by members of the Pittsburgh Opera orchestra in the beautiful lobby of Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts before this evening's program.

02/02/2023

Erik Larson on stage at Heinz Hall preparing for tonight’s lecture. Hope to see you there!

01/19/2023

We are happy to report that Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa, who spoke for us in November, was cleared Wednesday of tax evasion charges, along with her news organization, Rappler. Ressa and Rappler still face three more legal cases.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa and her online news company were cleared Wednesday of tax evasion charges she said were among a slew of legal cases used by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to try to muzzle critical reporting.

11/10/2022

2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa is checking the tech before this evening’s lecture at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts. 🎤

10/27/2022

We're happy to be back at Heinz Hall this evening for a fascinating evening with former CIA Director John Brennan.

09/28/2022

Former CIA Director John Brennan weighs in on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent saber rattling. We look forward to hearing his insights when he joins us at Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts on Oct. 26. A limited number of season tickets are still available - call 412.392.4900.

Former CIA director John Brennan talks with CNN's Brianna Keilar about the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the recent draft order from Russian President Vladimir Putin and the recent unexplained leaks from the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

09/22/2022

We are thrilled to welcome former Attorney General Loretta Lynch to Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts to kick off the 20th Season of the Pittsburgh Speakers Series! It's good to be back.

08/08/2022

We are sad to note the passing of Pittsburgh native David McCullough, a fantastic speaker who made history come to life when he spoke at the Pittsburgh Speakers Series during the 2003-2004 and 2008-2009 seasons.

“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
- David McCullough

David McCullough, a proud native of Pittsburgh whose words and voice made American history come alive for millions, died Sunday at 89 at his home in Hingham,...

06/29/2022

We look forward to hearing from 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa on November 9.

Here, she asserts that the next wave of elections around the world, including the U.S. midterms in November, provides another opportunity for social media to spread disinformation, divide people against one another and incite violence.

The Filipino American journalist sees a global tide of misinformation that demands government action.

03/26/2020

Pittsburgh Speakers Series's cover photo