Ken Burns to Highlight 2nd Annual Lincoln Forum Symposium at Hildene
The Lincoln Forum Symposium to be held May 1-3 at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
MANCHESTER, VT - Ken Burns—the nation’s most honored documentary filmmaker—will receive the coveted Lincoln Forum Film Award at the 2026 Lincoln Forum Spring Symposium at Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, in Manchester, Vermont. The 3-day event takes place May 1-3, 2026, with the keynote session and award presentation scheduled for Saturday evening at Lincoln Hall, Hildene’s programs and celebrations center.
Lincoln scholar and author Harold Holzer, Chairman of the Lincoln Forum, will present the award to Burns as a highlight of the event. Burns will become just the second-ever recipient of the award, which was presented to Doris Kearns Goodwin in 2023. Following a screening of highlights from the documentary “The Civil War,” Burns will engage on stage in a conversation with Holzer after the award presentation.
“We are so proud to be returning to Hildene and celebrating Ken Burns this year,” said Harold Holzer, Chairman of the Lincoln Forum. “He is nothing less than the leading chronicler of American history, our greatest educator, and the voice and vision of reason in what Abraham Lincoln called ‘troublous times." We are honored that Ken will be with us and look forward to viewing highlights of his great Civil War film and discussing the state of history and the union as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.”
The 3-day Symposium begins with a kick-off dinner and program Friday evening at the Equinox Golf Resort and Spa, followed by a full day of speakers, panels, Hildene home tours, and archives tours at Lincoln Hall on Saturday, then concludes back at the Equinox Hotel on Sunday morning. Sunday’s program features a panel of direct descendants of former American Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, and Theodore Roosevelt.
“We are so proud to be returning to Hildene and celebrating Ken Burns this year. He is nothing less than the leading chronicler of American history, our greatest educator, and the voice and vision of reason in what Abraham Lincoln called ‘troublous times."
— Harold Holzer, Chairman of the Lincoln Forum.
As a special added attraction, musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Michaels, who composed and performed the haunting “Ashokan Farewell” theme song for Ken Burns’ “Civil War,” will appear at the Saturday night event to serenade the honoree—and our attendees—with that famous melody and other songs from the Civil War.
THE LINCOLN FORUM SYMPOSIUM AT HILDENE
Attendees will discover the compelling legacy of the Lincoln family through expert lectures, engaging panel discussions, and exclusive tours. Highlights include:
Friday Dinner: Lois Romano in conversation with Jason Emerson: Mary Lincoln, Inconvenient Widow.
Saturday: A full day at Hildene’s Lincoln Hall with thought-provoking talks, including a dinner, keynote, and award presentation followed by Ken Burns in conversation with Harold Holzer. Highlight clips from the award-winning PBS series The Civil War. Special music by Jay Ungar and Molly Mason.
Sunday: Special Panel at the Equinox Hotel: Presidential Families after Lincoln: How They Lived. With presidential descendants Tweed Roosevelt, Ulysses Grant Dietz, and Massey McKinley. Moderator: Frank J. Williams.
For a detailed symposium schedule, please visit here. Throughout the weekend, attendees can purchase books and acquire signed copies from The Museum Store at Hildene.
“I am so excited to welcome back to Hildene the nation’s most prestigious group of Lincoln scholars and authors,” said Hildene president Craig Gemmell. “In addition to Ken Burns and other great speakers, this year’s event will feature artifacts from our archives that were personal to President Lincoln, including his White House Bible and iconic stovepipe hat.”
The inaugural symposium, which sold out last year, drew attendees from 35 states across the nation and featured some of the nation’s most accomplished Lincoln scholars.
This 2nd annual event is being presented by the Bank of Bennington, headquartered in Bennington, Vermont, and dedicated to strengthening local communities for over a century.
Additional sponsors include Jean and William Soman, David Lawrence Jr., Ross Heller, Frank and Virginia Williams, Shawn Thomas, Michelle Krowl, and Harold and Edith Holzer.
To register for the 3-day symposium, please visit the Lincoln Forum website: Lincoln Forum Spring Symposium at Hildene
For more information, please visit www.thelincolnforum.com or www.hildene.org.
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HILDENE, THE LINCOLN FAMILY HOME
Hildene inspires and educates visitors of all ages by bringing the Lincoln family legacy to life through immersive experiences, innovative educational programs, and engaging exhibits. Our 412-acre historic estate—with its Georgian Revival mansion, formal gardens, observatory, Welcome Center, and The Museum Store in the historic carriage barn—also features the 1903 Pullman car, Sunbeam, and Hildene Farm. As one of Vermont’s premier educational and cultural institutions, we preserve this home and land for everyone's enjoyment, managing them with great care for their historical, architectural, agricultural, and environmental significance.
Follow Hildene's social media channels (@hildenethelincolnfamilyhome) to stay apprised of upcoming special programs and events.
Hildene is open year-round, Thursday - Monday, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as well as on some holidays.
For more information, please visit hildene.org or call (802) 362-1788.
