Frequently Asked Questions

No, we are returning to exclusively in-person attendance. With audiences across the Philadelphia region and the U.S. returning to in-person attendance at live cultural events, the Philadelphia Speakers Series looks forward to returning to an exclusively live, in-person experience at the Kimmel Center for the 2023-2024 season. In addition, there will be no recordings available for viewing after the events.

The lectures start promptly at 8 pm. The Kimmel Center lobby opens at 7 pm, and the doors to the auditorium open at 7:30 pm. The evening will conclude at approximately 9:30 pm.

After a few welcoming remarks from the series moderator and an introduction, the evening’s speaker will deliver his or her comments until approximately 9 pm. The moderator then returns to the stage to ask the speaker to respond to the audience’s questions in a lively Q&A session. The evening will conclude at approximately 9:30 pm.

No, the Speakers Series is only sold as a subscription to all seven lectures. Not only does this make it possible to keep the cost of each subscription at a relatively low level, but it furthers the series’ goal of promoting civic dialogue and understanding by presenting a diverse roster of renowned authorities who collectively speak to a broad range of topics and perspectives to enhance our community’s understanding of our increasingly complex world. Particularly in this polarized time, we are proud that subscribers to the Speakers Series welcome the opportunity to hear from a speaker whose views they may not agree with, and even relish the opportunity to challenge him or her with a question.

Yes. Upon arrival at the Kimmel Center, please ask an usher for an Assistive Listening Device. We want to make sure that you can hear what the speaker says.

Yes, in cases where the season is not sold out, we offer prorated subscriptions for all remaining lectures throughout the season. Please contact the Ticket Philadelphia at (215) 893-1955.

You simply can’t beat the “real”, live, in person experience! Being present to hear our speakers share anecdotal, “behind the headlines” stories about their unique experiences for nearly an hour and then take questions from the audience – maybe even YOUR question – is priceless. Some subscribers have described the Speakers Series as an elite continuing education course with a virtual “who’s who” of national and global figures.

The best-known speakers offer engaging and provocative evenings for our subscribers. But it is often the lesser-known (or even completely unknown) names that make the most profound impact on our patrons. The single most frequent comment we hear from subscribers is that the speakers they were least interested in initially were the ones they’ve enjoyed the most. Just ask a long-term subscriber about their evenings with Platon, Diana Nyad, or Nando Parrado!

Each season, seven of the world’s most celebrated and influential personalities are selected to share their unique experience and perspectives on a wide variety of topics from world affairs and politics, to history and the environment, books and authors, business and economics, and the arts. Click here for a listing of past speakers 

The Speakers Series is a series of seven individual lectures, generally scheduled from September through April.

Bronze Seating/Rear View Subscriptions $395
Open Seating Subscriptions $435
Silver Seating Subscriptions $485
Gold Seating Subscriptions $555
Platinum Seating Subscriptions $615
Postage & Handling Fee $20 per subscription seat

Tickets are sold by SUBSCRIPTION to the entire series only! It is not possible to purchase tickets to individual lectures. Both Open and Reserved seating are available. Reserved seating is assigned seating in the Gold and Platinum sections. Open seating allows you to choose any seat – on a first come basis – that is not in the reserved section.

Tickets go on sale in March, the day after the 6th lecture of the current season. All existing subscribers will receive a renewal packet in the mail. If you are interested in becoming a new subscriber, you are encouraged to place an order as soon as possible once the new season is announced to increase your chances of obtaining seats as the Speakers Series has historically sold out.

Yes! There will be a question card inserted in your program. At 8:25 pm and again at 8:35 pm, ushers will walk down the aisles to collect questions from the audience. There are always more questions submitted than the moderator is able to ask, but many audience submissions are included in the Q&A.

Yes, as long as we have your email address, we will send you a survey after each lecture.

The Kimmel Center 300 South Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

Unfortunately, we do not have a system in place to return unused tickets. We encourage you to offer your tickets to a friend, neighbor or colleague to allow them to enjoy the speakers series in your place.

If you can’t find your tickets or never received them, please call Ticket Philadelphia at (215) 893-1955 and they will be able to provide you with replacement tickets.

Tickets are mailed in September, in plenty of time for the first lecture.

View the full list of speakers.

If you’re not getting subscriber emails, please send an email to [email protected] asking to be included on our list. Please include the name that your subscription is under and the patron number printed on your tickets.

If any of your contact information has changed, please send us an email to [email protected] with your new information and we will be sure that your patron record is updated at the Box Office.

Unfortunately, the contracts with the speakers do not allow for the recording and dissemination of a speaker’s comments.