About

“Life shines brightly not because we are rich, beautiful, or powerful. Instead, it shines when we discover within ourselves the truth that we are called by God, have a vocation, have a mission, that our lives serve something greater than ourselves."
—Pope Leo XIV, Mass for the Jubilee of Education, November 2025

The 2026–27 Notre Dame Forum will focus on the theme, "What Does It Mean to Live a Good Life?" This question has long animated the work of philosophers, theologians, artists, and scientists, and has never been more timely in the face of dramatic social, political, economic, and technological change.

As we consider what it means to live a good life, we might ask ourselves the following: how can we cultivate meaningful lives and build a more just and humane world? How do we find meaning and joy, nurture close relationships and connections, build community, seek the common good, and support human flourishing? What does it mean to cultivate resilience and innovation in the face of adversity and challenge? What do the various disciplines–whether the arts, humanities, social sciences, STEM, health sciences, law or business—have to teach us about living a good life? And what wisdom does Catholic Social Teaching and Tradition offer on these critical questions?

In exploring these questions together, we seek to grow in our understanding of our shared humanity and deepen our capacity to be a force for good in the world.

Since its establishment in 2005, each year the Notre Dame Forum invites campus-wide dialogue about issues of importance to the University, the nation, and the larger world. All members of the Notre Dame community—students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends—are invited to participate in this exploration, whether in classrooms, residence halls, research labs, or through community-wide events.

If you or your department, club, or organization are planning an event that relates to this year’s Forum theme, please let us know by emailing forum@nd.edu.

Join us for a Forum event

Previous Forum Themes