Preview: 2026 Texas Tribune Festival

ATPE is excited to be a supporting sponsor of the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 24–26 in downtown Austin. Not only will we have a presence Sept. 26 in The Commons, an outdoor hub for refreshments, live entertainment from local artists, and hands-on fun between sessions, but also we’re partnering with The Texas Tribune to offer continuing professional education (CPE) credit for any Texas educators attending the festival. If you’ve already registered, please visit atpe.org/tribfest for details on how to claim credits.

If you don’t have your festival ticket yet, don’t worry—students and educators may still purchase specially priced tickets for only $65! This is an incredible discount off the main ticket price ($350), but you must use an education-affiliated email address to purchase and register. Learn more at https://trib.it/tribfest26-ATPE.

Here are our picks for can’t-miss public education-related sessions. We expect the Legislature to focus on these issues during the 2027 session.

Make America Read Again 
9:30–10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25 | 800 Congress

In this ATPE-sponsored session, panelists will discuss what the decline of reading means for learning, democracy, and what it means to be human, and what we can do about it.

Growing Up Wired 
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 | 800 Congress

Panelists will tackle the question: With screens reshaping childhood, is the response from schools, lawmakers and parents working?

Running Texas Schools 
2:15–3:15 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 | Bethell Hall, St. David’s Episcopal Church

In this ATPE-sponsored session, Texas superintendents will chat about what it actually takes to lead public schools at this moment and what they need from the Legislature next year.

Check out the full schedule.