PRESS RELEASE: Illinois Humanities Announces Largest-Ever Road Scholars Speakers Bureau for 2026

CHICAGO – March 11, 2026 – As conversations about history and democracy continue to dominate the airwaves ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, Illinois Humanities is making history once again with the launch of its 2026 Road Scholars Speakers Bureau. With 40 scholars, artists, and performers, the largest cohort in the program’s history, the Road Scholars will bring more than 150 free public presentations to communities across Illinois. 

In celebration of the 250th, this year’s Road Scholars Speakers Bureau will explore the central themes of “We the People” and the “American Dream,” and how they have remained the same or evolved over the last two centuries. Presentations will bring history, culture, and civic dialogue directly into libraries, museums, and community spaces across the state, and explore how Illinois is central to the American story. 

“The Road Scholars Speakers Bureau has reflected what Illinois Humanities does best by bringing ideas out of institutions and into communities,” said Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director of Illinois Humanities. “When a historian, writer, or artist stands in a local library or community center and shares their work, something powerful happens. People see their own stories reflected in larger narratives, they ask new questions, and they engage with history and culture in new and exciting ways.” 

Illinois Humanities is grounding its 2026 work in the belief that “history belongs to all of us,” and through the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, audiences are invited to reflect on the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence and consider what democracy, belonging, and civic participation mean today. 

“As someone who works closely with cultural organizations across Illinois, I see how transformative programs like Road Scholars can be,” said Dorene Wiese, Chief Executive Officer at American Indian Association of Illinois and 2026 Road Scholar. “When a local library or museum hosts a scholar or artist, it helps spark conversations that stay with people long after the presentation ends. Road Scholars creates those moments for connection and helps strengthen the culture of our entire state.” 

All Road Scholars programs are free and open to the public. Organizations interested in hosting a Road Scholars Speaker, on a first-come, first-served basis, and individuals interested in attending upcoming programs can find more information at www.ilhumanities.org/programs/road-scholars.