Upcoming Speaking Engagements [Updated]
Ilya Somin's upcoming speaking engagements for the Spring 2026 semester. Most are free and open to the public.
Below is my list of speaking engagements for the Spring 2026 semester. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the public—and in person. The listed times are those in the time zone where the event is being held.
I will likely add additional events and information to this post, as they are scheduled, and update details on existing ones. In the meantime if your university, think tank, research institute or other similar organization would like to invite me to speak (either virtually or in person) on any topic within my expertise, I am open for business!
Jan. 30, 1:30-3:00 PM, Scalia Law School, George Mason University, Arlington, VA: "State Constitutional Law and Exclusionary Zoning," Panel on "Euclidean Zoning Criticisms and Judicial Review Going Forward," Pacific Legal Foundation Symposium on"Euclid Turns 100: Rethinking an Antiquated Case and Reimagining Euclidean Zoning for the Century Ahead." The program for this event is available here.
Feb. 3, 12-1:30 PM (tentative time), Faculty Seminar, American University Washington College of Law, Washington, DC: "Immigration is Not Invasion." This event may be limited to American University students and faculty.
Feb. 5, Time TBA, Cato University, Cato Institute, Washington, DC: "Constitutional Constraints on Executive Emergency Powers." This event is likely limited to participants in the Cato University program.
Feb. 24, 12-1:30 PM (tentative time), Columbia Law School, New York, NY: "The Grasping Hand: Kelo v. City of New London and the Limits of Eminent Domain" (tentative title). Debate with Prof. Thomas Merrill (Columbia). Sponsored by the Columbia Federalist Society. CANCELLED because my flight to New York was cancelled due to a snowstorm. I will update this when and it if is rescheduled.
Feb. 27, 9:30-10:45 AM, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, panel on spending and taxation, conference on the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia, PA: "Tariffs, Taxation, and the Principles of the Declaration of Independence" (tentative title). The other panelists will be include Irwin Kramer (American University), Molly Reynolds (Brookings Institute), Laura Dove (American Enterprise Institute), and Jane Madders (Fordham University, serving as moderator). Sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law and the National Constitution Center.
Mar. 4, Scalia Law School, George Mason University, Arlington, VA, 4:30-5:30 PM: "An Unconstitutional War: Why the Attack on Iran Requires Congressional Authorization." Sponsored by the American Constitution Society and the Muslim Law Students Association.
Mar. 6, 9-10:30 AM, 2026 National Conference of Constitutional Law Scholars, Westin La Paloma, Tucson, AZ (sponsored by the University of Arizona): "Immigration is Not Invasion." I will also be serving as a Distinguished Commentator at this conference. See here for more information about the event.
Mar. 11, Time TBA, Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, Philadelphia, PA: "Trump, Tariffs, and the Constitution" (tentative title). Sponsored by the VIllanova Federalist Society.
Mar. 13, Time TBA, Conference on the Free Speech Rights of Non-Citizens, Center for Academic Freedom and Free Speech, Yale Law School, New Haven, CT: "How Speech-Based Immigration Restrictions Threaten Academic Freedom."
Mar. 19, Time TBA, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, WA: "Immigration is Not Invasion." More information on this event here.
Mar. 24, 12-1 PM, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC: "The Constitutional Case Against Exclusionary Zoning" (sponsored by the Georgetown Federalist Society and the the Georgetown Law Conservative and Libertarian Student Association.
Mar. 26, 3:45-5:00 PM, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, CA: "Democracy and Political Ignorance: Why Smaller Government is Smarter" (sponsored by the McGeorge Federalist Society).
April 2, time TBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business: "The Case for Open Borders Immigration" (tentative topic and title). Sponsored by the Adam Smith Society.