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Cato University

Cato University 2026: Winter Term

Date and Time
February 5, 2026 — February 7, 2026
Location
Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
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Cato University is the Cato Institute’s premier educational event for college students. Each program will explore classical liberal philosophy as a foundation for considering current policy issues. This year’s Cato University Winter Term is offered in cooperation with Students For Liberty. Members of Students For Liberty are particularly encouraged to apply as additional programming will be offered for SFL students.

Cato University is for United States based applicants; we are currently not accepting applications from internationally based attendees.

Benefits include room and board, 20+ hours of academic programming, networking opportunities, resources for further study, and a $500 travel stipend upon completion of the program.

Applicants will be notified of their status on a rolling basis. The deadline for applications is Monday, January 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST. If you have any questions or need assistance applying, please email our staff at events@​cato.​org.

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Schedule

Thursday, February 5

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Registration

5:30 - 6:00 PM

Welcoming Remarks and Event Kickoff

6:00 - 6:30 PM

Opening Reception

6:30 - 7:30 PM

Dinner

7:30 - 8:30 PM

Opening Keynote

Ilya Somin, B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute

Friday, February 6

8:00 - 8:45 AM

Breakfast

9:00 - 10:15 AM
Jason Brennan, Robert J. and Elizabeth Flanagan Family Professor, Georgetown University
10:15 - 10:30 AM

Break

10:30 - 11:30 AM
Jeffrey Miron, Vice President for Research, Cato Institute
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Katherine Thompson, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
12:30 - 1:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 - 2:30 PM
Clark Neily, Senior Vice President for Legal Studies, Cato Institute
Alex Nowrasteh, Senior Vice President for Policy, Cato Institute
2:30 - 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 - 3:45 PM

Policy Sessions

3:45 - 4:00 PM

Break

4:00 - 4:30 PM

Debrief and Discussion

4:30 - 6:00 PM

Free Time

6:00 - 6:30 PM

Reception

6:30 - 7:30 PM

Dinner

7:30 - 8:30 PM

Speaker to be Announced

Saturday, February 7

8:00 - 8:45 AM

Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00 AM
Paul Meany, Intellectual History Editor,
Lib​er​tar​i​an​ism​.org
10:00 - 11:00 AM

Workshop: Civil Discourse and Making a Convincing Case for Classical Liberalism

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Closing Remarks, Group Photo, and Stipend Distribution

Optional Afternoon Sessions
12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

12:45 - 1:30 PM

Public Speaking Workshop

1:30 - 1:45 PM

Break

1:45 - 2:30 PM

Building a Strong Cato Internship Application

2:30 - 3:00 PM

Activism and AI

3:00 PM

Wrap Up and Departures

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