A look back at the Conference on World Affairs—key moments and record attendance

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 Boulder faculty, staff and community volunteers, CWA’s week of sessions bridged local and global perspectives through respectful dialogue on today’s most pressing issues.

The conference may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience it for yourself through recordings of the panels and select special events and photos galore!

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.

Read the Wrap-up

Sundance Film Festival is coming to Boulder. Now what?

Colorado Public Radio’s Ryan Warner led a live conversation—and recording of a future Colorado Matters segment—examining the future of independent filmmaking with Gigi Pritzker, producer and Sundance Institute board member; Lulu Wang, filmmaker (“The Farewell”); and CU Boulder cinema studies student Kate Yezzi.

Panel highlights

Art

Media

Business

Science

Politics

Most watched

, capturing 52 panels.

By the numbers

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

*Numbers are estimates

In‑person engagement

  • 7,000 estimated attendees
  • 3,850 panel attendees
  • 3,000 special program attendees
  • 1,600 CU Boulder student attendees
  • 1,250 K–12 student/educator attendees
  • 1,000 CU Boulder students reached by CWA speakers via classroom visits

*Numbers are estimates

Online audience engagement

  • 20,000+ livestream views and growing

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

  • CWA panels—8,400 livestream views; now available on YouTube, extending post‑event engagement

*Numbers are estimates

The week in photos

Conference on World Affairs student leadership and volunteers walk with Թ Justin Schwartz for the ceremonial procession
Թ 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 Boulder
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 Boulder hotel
Keynote Malala Yousafzai speaks with moderator Stefanie Johnson
Թ Justin Schwartz, former CU presidents and chancellors, and campus community members enjoy a scoop of CU Boulder's 150th anniversary ice cream
Person at the podium of an evening event
Conference attendees enjoy the outdoor space at Limelight Boulder
Conference volunteer assists an attendee
Թ 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 Boulder
Attendees speak with panelists
Director Lulu Wang shakes hands with an audience member
Թ 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 Boulder
Audience member raises both hands during a panel
View from behind a panel
Audience members raise their hands during a panel
Թ Justin Schwartz listens to the Steamboat debate
panelists at Boulder High School
Students and Conference on World Affairs speakers at T/aco in Boulder
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

Click images to enlarge and read captions. Photos by Glenn Asakawa, Casey Cass and Patrick Campbell (CU Boulder).

Join the planning committee

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