OCON 2026

The Objectivist Conference

Find Kindred Spirits.
Build Your Future.

Five days of ideas, connection, and inspiration with people who share your commitment to reason. This is where rational thinkers come home.

June 26–30, 2026
New Orleans, Louisiana
Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
Reserve Your Spot

Limited seats available — Join 300+ independent thinkers

A Conference Built for Independent Minds

Here's what makes OCON unlike anything else you've experienced.

Enriching Conversations

At OCON, every conversation is grounded in a genuine desire to grasp the truth. Spend five days surrounded by people who think deeply, challenge ideas respectfully, and share your commitment to reason and independent thought.

Clarity Over Conformity

OCON is a rare space where clarity is rewarded and independent thinking is the norm. Speak freely, think boldly, and engage with people who value your perspective.

Builders, Thinkers, Creators

Meet the people you've been looking for — builders, thinkers, and creators who live by reason and pursue their own happiness without apology. They come from around the world, and they'll be here.

What If You Could Spend Five Days With People Who Actually Get It?

OCON is the annual gathering of independent minds — thinkers, builders, creators, and entrepreneurs who share your commitment to reason, individualism, and living life on your own terms.

For five days in New Orleans, you'll be surrounded by people who get where you're coming from. People who challenge your thinking — not your right to think. People who celebrate achievement instead of tearing it down.

OCON attendees in conversation

Five Days of Ideas, Conversation, and Connection

OCON isn't a passive experience. It's an intellectual immersion that challenges, inspires, and connects.

World-Class Lectures

Hear from leading Objectivist intellectuals on philosophy, psychology, and the ideas shaping our world.

Deep Connections

Meet ambitious people from around the world who share your core values. Many attendees form lifelong friendships, business partnerships, and more.

Real Conversations

Transcend the small talk. Engage in discussions where intellectual curiosity is the norm and disagreement leads to clarity, not conflict.

Personal Clarity

Step out of the noise. Immerse yourself in ideas that matter. Return home with renewed energy, sharper thinking, and a clearer sense of purpose.

Social Events

Evening receptions, dinners, and informal gatherings where the best conversations happen. Experience New Orleans with people worth knowing.

Actionable Insights

Ideas that illuminate your career, relationships, and pursuit of happiness — grounded in a philosophy that unites theory and practice.

What Attendees Say About OCON

Don't take our word for it. Here's what past attendees have to say.

"OCON was a life-changing experience for me. It was extremely fun and extremely informational. The people were wonderful, the talks were wonderful — it was just incredible and extremely exciting. I will think fondly back on OCON forever as a formative experience that has helped me to be a better and smarter thinker and person."

D

Dominique

NYU Student, First-Time Attendee

"For many, it's the first time they realize they're not alone—that there are ambitious, independent thinkers like them all over the world. It gives them not just ideas, but a sense of community, purpose, and momentum.

They meet people from different cultures, professions, and backgrounds who share the same core values—and that expands their worldview in a deeply personal way. Many walk away with lifelong friendships. Some find career opportunities or even romantic partners. The conversations continue well after the conference ends. It's not an exaggeration to say this event changes lives—I've seen it firsthand, and experienced it myself."

YD

Yonatan Daon

Event Organizer & Attendee

"It's very rare that you can have such intellectual intensity be effortless as well. You can walk up to people and ask them questions about the universe, and they will respond as though you'd asked them about the weather—and then, in the next two minutes, solve questions that you've had for months."

D

Daphne

OCON Attendee

The OCON Experience

Five days of ideas, connection, and inspiration.

OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025 OCON 2025

Learn From Minds That Matter

OCON brings together leading thinkers who don't just study ideas — they live them.

Alex Epstein

Featured Speaker: Alex Epstein

Founder, Center for Industrial Progress

Author of Fossil Future and The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels. A leading voice for energy freedom and human flourishing, Alex will present "How to Liberate America's Producers."

Greg Salmieri

Greg Salmieri

The Philosophy of the Producer
Gena Gorlin

Gena Gorlin

The Psychology of the Producer
Tara Smith

Tara Smith

Intellectual Shrinkage
Amesh Adalja

Amesh Adalja

Conquering the Necropolis
Peter Schwartz

Peter Schwartz

The Meaning of Fundamentals
Shoshana Milgram

Shoshana Milgram

Ayn Rand & Marilyn Monroe
Steven Pinker

Special Guest: Steven Pinker

Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University

Named by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Author of Rationality, Enlightenment Now, and When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows . . .. Join us for a special panel discussion on the Enlightenment, human progress, and the battle for Western civilization.

Join Us in New Orleans

. . . the city where Ayn Rand delivered her final public lecture—a fitting setting for a gathering dedicated to celebrating the power of the individual mind.

June 26–30, 2026

Five full days of lectures, discussions, and connection

Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130

Five Full Days

Lectures, panels, networking receptions, and more

Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

Invest in Your Mind. Invest in Your Future.

A week that could change how you think, who you know, and how you live. What's that worth?

$1776

Full Conference Access

  • Full access to all lectures and panels
  • Steven Pinker special guest session
  • Networking receptions and social events
  • Networking with 300+ independent thinkers
  • Virtual access to recorded sessions
Secure Your Pass Now

Scholarships are available for students and young professionals. Apply here.

Questions? We've Got Answers.

Who attends OCON?

Entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and intellectuals who share a commitment to reason and individualism and an interest in Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. Ages range from college students to retired professionals. What unites them: a passion for ideas and living life on their own terms.

Do I need to be an expert in Objectivism?

No. Whether you've read everything Ayn Rand wrote or just finished your first of her novels, there's loads here to gain. The community is welcoming to newcomers and challenging to veterans alike.

What if I'm coming alone?

Most people do. The conference is designed to facilitate connection — you won't be alone for long. Many attendees report making their closest friendships at OCON.

Is there a dress code?

Business casual for daytime sessions. Some evening events may be more formal. Comfort matters — you'll be thinking hard.

Can I get a scholarship?

Yes. Scholarships are available for students and young professionals under 35 years old who demonstrate genuine interest but face financial constraints. Apply early—funding is limited.

What's the refund policy?

Full refunds available up to 30 days before the event. Partial refunds available after that. Details on the registration page.

Stop Waiting. Start Connecting.
Your Future Begins Here.

Five days in New Orleans. Three hundred-plus independent minds. One opportunity to discover a network to build your future on.

Reserve Your Spot at OCON 2026
"Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours."
— Ayn Rand