Excitement is building for East Tennessee State University’s 2026 Festival of Ideas, featuring author and violinist Vijay Gupta on Feb. 24 and bestselling author and podcast host John Green on Feb. 26.

Tickets are required to attend both events and will be available in January. Here’s how to get your free tickets:

ETSU Faculty/Staff

ETSU faculty and staff will receive early access to secure tickets before the public. ETSU faculty and staff may claim up to two (2) tickets between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28 on the Martin Center for the Arts website. Please note that a limited number of early-access tickets are available.

ETSU Students

ETSU students will also receive early access to secure tickets before the public. Student tickets may be claimed at the Carrier Center front desk in the D.P. Culp Student Center beginning Wednesday, January 28, at 10 a.m. Please note: one (1) ticket may be claimed per valid student ID, and a limited number of early-access tickets are available.

General Public

Tickets will be available to the public at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 29, on the Martin Center for the Arts website. Attendees can reserve up to six tickets per person for Gupta and two tickets per person for Green.

Rush Seating

In the event of a sellout, rush seating will be available for this event. Patrons interested in rush seating should line up in the designated queue located at the front entrance of the Martin Center, facing State of Franklin. Beginning at 7 p.m., any empty seats will be released to patrons waiting in the rush seating queue.

Please note: The Martin Center cannot guarantee all patrons waiting in the rush seating queue will be seated for the event. Rush seating is first-come, first-served.

Learn more about all ETSU and the region have to offer at etsu.edu/our-region.

The 2026 ETSU Festival of Ideas is sponsored by The Bob Owens Community Leadership Fund.

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