Live Stream: TED Democracy: Founding Futures

Held in honor of America’s 250th birthday in 2026, this flagship event will feature more than a dozen brand-new TED Talks from the Marian Anderson Hall stage, as well as interactive activations, performances, and culinary pop-ups. The event’s Founding Futures theme takes an active interpretation of the word “founding,” exploring the evolving story of democracy, while both honoring our past and looking ahead.

The President's Series

Welcome to the President's Series —an engaging collection of special events hosted by Darien Library in collaboration with the President of the Board and members of the Library Board of Trustees.

On July 4, 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This act, which formally separated the 13 colonies from British rule, shook and reshaped the world. The “American experiment” rested on the revolutionary idea that legitimate government rests on the consent of the governed. Independence did not come easily or without grave cost. The American Revolution last seven long years, with tens of thousands of lives lost. 

Today, historians, philosophers, and people worldwide continue to study the Founding, the principles of democratic republicanism, and its evolution over the past 250 years. Darien Library joins museums, libraries, educational and cultural institutions nationwide in commemorating the semiquincentennial, known as “America 250,” through a series of public programs that celebrate American history and reflect on our nation’s continuing pursuit of a more perfect union.

We invite you to join us for this 8-part special series featuring films, history talks, folk music, and more.