Nuit des idées 2026

Organized in New Orleans by Villa Albertine in partnership with Tulane University, the 2026 Night of Ideas in New Orleans, brings together students, scholars, and members of the wider community for an evening of discussion and reflection on revolutionary ideas and their contemporary legacies. Centered on a student research and presentation project linked to the Oscar Maas Prize, the program features short presentations examining key aspects of the American Revolution in dialogue with France and Louisiana, with perspectives extended to the Haitian Revolution in order to highlight transatlantic circulations of ideas, people, and struggles. The evening will then continue with a moderated panel discussion and a public Q&A led by the students competing for the Oscar Maas Prize, fostering direct and dynamic exchanges with the audience.

Designed as a space for emerging voices and collective inquiry, the event echoes the Night of Ideas’ 2026 theme, “Enlightenment Now: Independence at 250,” by revisiting the promises, tensions, and lasting impact of Enlightenment ideals.