Sun Valley Forum releases 2026 speaker lineup and program

By AI, Created 10:50 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Christensen Global unveiled the 11th Sun Valley Forum program and speaker roster for June 15-18, 2026, at Sun Valley Resort in Idaho. The gathering brings business, government, finance, philanthropy and arts leaders together around innovation, investment and resilience, with public film screenings and nature-focused experiences also planned.

Why it matters: - The Sun Valley Forum is designed to bring capital, policy and ideas into one place to push practical solutions for resilience. - The 2026 edition adds public-facing programming, including free film screenings, broadening the event beyond invited attendees. - The mix of business, climate, conservation and culture leaders signals a cross-sector push to turn collaboration into action.

What happened: - Christensen Global released the speaker lineup and program for the 11th Sun Valley Forum on May 5, 2026. - The forum runs June 15-18, 2026, at Sun Valley Resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. - The event theme is “Powered by Nature: A Blueprint for Innovation, Investment & Impact.” - The forum will gather leaders from business, government, finance, philanthropy and the arts. - Aimée Christensen, forum founder and host, said the event is meant to convene leaders at a moment of global insecurity to spotlight innovation, mobilize capital and build community. - Amber Valletta, a 2026 speaker and UN Environment Program ambassador, said the forum is where collaboration sparks innovation and nature can become the basis for protecting the planet.

The details: - The program includes four days of keynotes, panels and workshops. - Culinary events are set for Sun Valley Lodge, Trail Creek Cabin, Galena Lodge in the Sawtooth National Forest and a closing dinner at Redfish Lake. - Planned outdoor activities include morning hikes, a regenerative farm tour, a net-zero home tour and Adventure Day. - Adventure Day options include Main Salmon River rafting. - Free public film screenings will include RiverNewe’s River of Return, Where the Forest Roars by Kim Frank and Oceania: Journey to the Center. - Filmmaker Q&As will follow the screenings. - Free ticket reservations will open on the 2026 Sun Valley Forum website. - David Gruber of Project CETI, the Cetacean Translation Initiative at National Geographic, opens June 15 with a keynote. - Featured speakers include Benji Backer, Philippe Cousteau, Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, Dr. Elizabeth Gray, Dana Gunders, Joel R. Johnson, David Livingston, Matt Lee-Ashley, Melanie Nakagawa, Emmy Scott, Pooja Tilvawala, Amber Valletta and Dr. Jennifer D. Watts. - Platinum sponsors include Microsoft, National Audubon Society, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Woodwell Climate Research Center, The Wilderness Society and FloWater. - ReFED is the convening sponsor and will host a working breakfast on June 17. - The Nature Conservancy is the gold sponsor. - The forum is partnering with the National Forest Foundation to restore regional forest ecosystems. - Scholarships are available through the Alpine Access Fund. - Volunteers are welcome.

Between the lines: - The agenda mixes conference programming with immersive nature experiences, reinforcing the forum’s branding around nature as both a theme and a strategy. - The sponsor list shows strong alignment with environmental and sustainability groups, which fits the forum’s policy and resilience focus. - Opening some programming to the public suggests the organizers want the forum to have influence beyond the attendee list.

What’s next: - Free film ticket reservations will open soon on the forum website. - Attendees can apply to attend through the 11th Sun Valley Forum. - Christensen Global and its partners will use the June gathering to advance discussions on innovation, investment and impact.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Sun Valley Forum is positioning itself as a high-level climate and resilience convening with a broader public footprint than a typical summit.