A view between two people, with their hands raised, while a person in a blue shirt stands in front of them, also with their hand raised, as they talk to a crowd in a restaurant patio.

In Person

May 5-27: CalMatters' VotingMatters events for the 2026 California primary election

May 05, 2026 12:00 am - May 27, 2026 11:59 pm

CalMatters is on the road all of May, bringing our popular 2026 Voter Guide to life during in-person, community conversations across California. Our VotingMatters events are produced in collaboration with on-the-ground partners – local news organizations, colleges, libraries, churches and nonprofit organizations.  Together, we bring people together for civil, issue-focused conversations that Californians have called  “engaging,” “informative” and “democracy at its best.”

In Person, CalMatters Live

The 2026 CalMatters Ideas Festival

May 21, 2026 • 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, 1230 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

Join us at the CalMatters Ideas Festival to meet people who care about, are affected by and have the power to do something about California’s pressing challenges. The programming will focus on the future of California as new technology, new leadership and new ideas shape how we live our lives in the Golden State. Plus, your ticket includes a continental breakfast, lunch and an evening reception.

Hybrid, CalMatters Live

The future of the vote: Will California's election systems hold up?

April 23, 2026 • 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 11th Street Sacramento, CA 95814

Join CalMatters and the UC Student and Policy Center for a panel discussion on the future of California's voting systems. Experts will assess where California's elections are strong, where they're vulnerable, and what policy changes might impact the fundamental right to vote.

Hybrid, SoCal Series

Who will rebuild? Workforce opportunities and challenges in LA's wildfire recovery

April 22, 2026 • 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Creveling Lounge at Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91106

In January 2025, devastating wildfires tore through Los Angeles, destroying homes, businesses and critical infrastructure. As communities move from emergency response to long-term recovery, a critical question remains: who will rebuild? This conversation will explore how workforce shortages are shaping recovery efforts and what can be done to strengthen the region’s skilled trades pipeline. Join us as we discuss how high schools, community colleges and workforce training programs are preparing young people for careers in the trades, as well as the barriers to entry and investments needed to connect students to stable, well-paying jobs that support wildfire recovery and long-term regional resilience.

Hybrid, SoCal Series

The evolution of crime and punishment in California: What’s next?

February 25, 2026 • 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Mark Taper Auditorium at the LA Central Library, 630 W 5th Street Los Angeles, CA 90071

Join us for a conversation about the future of criminal justice in California. Our panelists will examine where the state is headed on prosecution, long-term incarceration, and rehabilitation, and what role government should play in helping people leave prison prepared to contribute to their communities. How can California balance accountability, public safety, and justice for victims while pursuing meaningful rehabilitation? Is a system built around transformation possible, or is a return to punishment and confinement inevitable?

Hybrid, SoCal Series

From healing to learning: How trauma-informed care shapes the future of education

February 05, 2026 • 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Center for Impact, 318 4th Avenue Chula Vista, CA 91910

For many children, preschool is their first experience with structured learning — and for some, their first opportunity to heal. At Mi Escuelita in San Diego, children as young as three who have experienced domestic violence and trauma learn in classrooms designed for recovery, where teachers work alongside therapists and play is part of the healing process. This panel explores what trauma-informed early education looks like in practice, how programs like these are sustained, and what policymakers can do to expand them statewide. The discussion asks: How can California build early-learning systems where healing is the foundation for learning?

In Person, CalMatters Live

What Will Power California’s AI Future?

November 18, 2025 • 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

CreaTV San Jose, 38 S Second Street San Jose, CA 95113

As California races to break its dependence on fossil fuels and expand clean energy, a new power player is emerging: data centers. Driven by the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, these energy-hungry facilities are reshaping the state’s electricity landscape. Cities like San Jose are courting data centers that run around the clock, with demand from such projects potentially rivaling the power used by 20 million homes within 15 years. Other states have seen prices soar and fossil fuels rebound. Can California — the heart of tech innovation — harness AI without blowing its clean-energy goals?

In Person, CalMatters Live

Health Matters: A Conversation with California’s Next Governor Community Watch Party

November 07, 2025 • 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

CalMatters Studio, 1303 J Street Suite 200, Sacramento CA 5814

This first-of-its-kind forum will bring candidates for California’s next governor together to respond directly to community voices about what matters most for health — from clean air and safe housing to good jobs and strong families. Join us for an afternoon of connection and conversation.

In Person, CalMatters Live

"Operation: Return to Sender" Film screening and discussion in San Jose

October 17, 2025 • 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

CreaTV San Jose, 38 South Second Street San Jose, CA 95113

On January 7th, over 65 Border Patrol agents traveled roughly 320 miles from their headquarters to Bakersfield to conduct what they called a “highly targeted” raid on immigrants with criminal and deportation records. Join Alianza News and CalMatters for a screening of Operation: Return to Sender, a short documentary produced in collaboration with Evident and Bellingcat that exposes significant discrepancies between official accounts and the reality of the three-day immigration raid in Bakersfield. Following the screening, investigative reporter Sergio Olmos and others will take the stage for an in-depth conversation.

In Person, CalMatters Live

California Votes: Proposition 50

October 14, 2025 • 11:30 am - 1:20 pm

UC Student and Policy Center, 1115 11th St., Sacramento, CA 95814

Should Californians support mid-decade redistricting? A debate presented by CalMatters, Capitol Weekly and the UC Student and Policy Center. Proponents from each of the campaigns will offer their arguments in a debate moderated by Rich Ehisen of Capitol Weekly and Juliet Williams of CalMatters.