945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
The International Conference on World War II is the premier adult educational event bringing together the best and brightest scholars, authors, historians, and witnesses to history from around the globe to discuss key battles, personalities, strategies, issues, and controversies of the war that changed the world. Joining the featured speakers are hundreds of attendees who travel from all over the world to learn and connect with each other through engaging discussions, question-and-answer periods, book signings, and receptions throughout the weekend.
Pre-Conference Symposium
FDR: The Greatest Champion of Freedom
Session times and order of the schedule will be updated closer to the conference
| Thursday, November 19, 2026 | |
| Symposium Opening | Michael Bell |
| Opening Keynote | “A Shadow Over the World: Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Rise of Fascism, and the Making of America’s World War II”: William I. Hitchcock |
| Building the Great Arsenal of Democracy | “The Arsenal of Democracy”: A.J. Baime |
| Defending the Homeland | “The Rise of the GI Army”: Paul Dickson “Civil Defense: Defending the Home Front”: Steph Hinnershitz |
| The Big Three: FDR’s Building and Sustaining the Grand Alliance Roundtable Discussion | Chair: Michael Neiberg Panelists: Alexandra Richie Guenter Bischof William Hitchcock |
| The Commander in Chief: FDR and His Chiefs | Chair: Michael Bell Panelists: Nigel Hamilton Jonathan Jordan |
19th International Conference on World War II
| Friday, November 20 | |
| 1937: The Slide to War | Chair: William I. Hitchcock “Darkness in the City of Light: The 1937 World’s Fair”: Michael Neiberg “Tojo: Chief of Staff of the Kwantung Army in Manchukuo”: Peter Mauch |
| Ortiz’s War: Legendary Member of the OSS, Marines, and French Foreign Legion | Chair: Bradley Hart Panelists: Nicholas Reynolds Katie Sanders |
| Treblinka | “Survival at Treblinka”: Chad Gibbs “The Spaces of Treblinka”: Jacob Flaws |
| World War II with Tom Hanks: A Behind-the-Scenes Look with The History Channel and The National WWII Museum | Chair: Bradley Hart Panelists: Kirk Saduski Rob Citino |
| Saturday, November 21 | |
| 1942: The Crux of War | Chair: Jonathan Parshall Panelists: Rob Citino John Curatola Steph Hinnershitz |
| The Weaponization of Starvation: Food Policies of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan | Panelists: Richard Frank Alexandra Richie |
| Empire of Ashes | “Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War”: James Scott “Homecomings: The Belated Return of Japan's Lost Soldiers”: Yoshikuni Igarashi |
| Spies and Threats on the US Soil | “The Dangerous Shore”: Sara Vladic with Bradley Hart |
| Jimmy: James Stewart, From Hollywood to Hero to Home | Chair: Donald L. Miller WWII: Robert Matzen Film: Kirk Saduski |
*Sessions and speakers subject to change.
Pricing
Conference Only
$1,599
Conference + Hotel Package
3 nights at The Higgins Hotel & Conference Center, November 19-21
$2,099 per person double occupancy
$2,499 per person single occupancy
Pre-Conference Symposium
FDR: The Greatest Champion of Freedom
$899 per person
