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
Thursday, November 19, 2026
Arcadia Ballroom
Madlyn and Paul Hilliard Conference Center at The Higgins Hotel
| 8:00 a.m. | Symposium Opening Michael Bell |
| 8:05 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. | “Building the Great Arsenal of Democracy” Chair: Bradley Hart “Awakening the Spirit of America”: Paul Sparrow “The Arsenal of Democracy”: A.J. Baime |
| 9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | Break |
| 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | “Defending the Homeland” Chair: TBD Panelist: TBD “Civil Defense: Defending the Home Front”: Steph Hinnershitz |
| 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. | Break and Lunch |
| 12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | “The Big Three: FDR’s Building and Sustaining the Grand Alliance” Roundtable Discussion Chair: Michael Neiberg Alexandra Richie Guenter Bischof William Hitchcock |
| 1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | Break |
| 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | "The Commander in Chief: FDR and His Chiefs” Chair: Michael Bell Nigel Hamilton Jonathan Jordan |
| 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Break |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | “The Visionaries: Bretton Woods, the Marshall Plan, and the Making of the Post-WWII Order” James Holland in conversation with Michael Bell |
19th International Conference on World War II
Thursday, November 19
| 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. | Conference Opening Reception |
| 6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. | Conference Welcome and Opening Remarks |
| 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. | Conference 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 |
Friday, November 20
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | “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 |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Break and Book Signing |
| 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | “Defiance Under Occupation” Chair: TBD “Partisan Song”: James A. Grymes “Philippine Resistance Against Japan in World War II”: Robert S. Burrell |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | “Ortiz’s War: Legendary Member of the OSS, Marines, and French Foreign Legion” Nicholas Reynolds and Katie Sanders in conversation with Bradley Hart |
| 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Break |
| 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | “Treblinka: History, Testimony, and Legacy” Chair: TBD “Survival at Treblinka”: Chad Gibbs “The Spaces of Treblinka”: Jacob Flaws |
| 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Break |
| 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | “World War II with Tom Hanks: A Behind-the-Scenes Look with The HISTORY Channel and The National WWII Museum” Chair: Bradley Hart Kirk Saduski Panelist TBD |
Saturday, November 21
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. | “1942: The Crux of War” Chair: Jonathan Parshall Con Crane John Curatola Steph Hinnershitz |
| 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | “The Weaponization of Starvation: Food Policies of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan” Chair: TBD Richard Frank Alexandra Richie |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. | “Empire of Ashes” Chair: TBD “Truman, Hirohito, and the Descent into Total War”: James Scott “Homecomings: The Belated Return of Japan's Lost Soldiers”: Yoshikuni Igarashi |
| 1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. | Break |
| 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | “Hunting Down Spies and Threats at Home and Abroad” Chair: Bradley Hart “The Dangerous Shore” Sara Vladic “Surveilling the Homeland” Jeff Rogg |
| 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Break |
| 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | “Tidal Wave: The Pilots, The Princess, and the Enemy Ace—A True Story of Courage and Survival in WWII” Adam Makos in conversation with John Curatola |
Conference Closing Banquet and Presentation
US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center
| 6:15 p.m. | Doors Open |
| 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | “Jimmy: James Stewart, From Hollywood to Hero to Home” Chair: Kirk Saduski Robert Matzen Donald L. Miller |
Events & Shows
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19th International Conference on World War II
11/19/2026 - 11/21/2026
Join us for our premier adult educational event bringing together the best and brightest scholars, authors, historians, and witnesses to history from around the globe to discuss the war that changed the world.
