Cascade PBS Ideas Festival Returns to Seattle

The annual event features live podcast recordings and TV tapings with top journalists and newsmakers.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:22pm

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A minimalist, abstract illustration featuring bold, jagged shapes and silhouettes in high-contrast black, white, and red, conceptually representing the diverse range of speakers and topics at the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival.The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival brings together leading voices from across the country for thought-provoking discussions on the biggest issues of our time.Seattle Today

The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, a full-day event in Seattle featuring live podcasts and studio television recordings, is set to return on June 6th. The festival will take place at new locations in the historic Fremont neighborhood, including Fremont Studios, PICKLR, and Hidden Hall. Journalists, newsmakers, and thought leaders from around the world will discuss hot topics and the biggest issues of our time.

Why it matters

The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival has become a must-attend event for those interested in in-depth discussions on current affairs, politics, and culture. The festival provides a platform for leading voices to share their perspectives and engage with the community.

The details

The festival will feature live podcast recordings from publications like The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Vox, CNN, Pushkin, NPR, and Cascade PBS. Attendees will also be able to watch conversations on Cascade PBS that will be available on-demand. The festival has previously hosted hundreds of notable speakers, including Jane Goodall, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Malcolm Gladwell, Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.

  • The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival will take place on June 6, 2026.
  • Cascade PBS members will have early access to the speaker lineup on April 2, 2026.
  • The first round of speakers and podcasts will be announced on April 6, 2026.

The players

Cascade PBS

A public television station serving the Seattle metropolitan area.

Fremont Studios

A production facility located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle that will host some of the festival events.

PICKLR

A venue in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle that will host some of the festival events.

Hidden Hall

A venue in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle that will host some of the festival events.

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What’s next

Cascade PBS members can access the early speaker lineup on April 2, 2026, and the first round of speakers and podcasts will be announced on April 6, 2026.

The takeaway

The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival continues to bring together leading voices from across the country to engage the Seattle community in thought-provoking discussions on the biggest issues of our time.