THE 2025/2026 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE SEATTLE SPEAKER SERIES PREMIERES ITS 28TH SEASON AT BENAROYA HALL
THE SERIES INCLUDES SIX PRESENTATIONS BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORERS, TAKING PLACE FROM OCTOBER 2025 THROUGH MAY 2026
SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE, WITH SINGLE TICKETS TO GO ON SALE JULY 1, 2025
Seattle, WA — Continuing their tradition of presenting a wide array of performances, concerts, events and lectures, Benaroya Hall and the Seattle Symphony announce the 2025/2026 National Geographic Live Seattle Speaker Series, featuring six presentations running from October 2025 to May 2026. The National Geographic Live Seattle Speaker Series features behind-the-scenes stories from National Geographic’s photographers, scientists, filmmakers and adventurers live on stage at Benaroya Hall, accompanied by iconic National Geographic footage and unforgettable imagery.
Immersing audiences into a world of discovery, the series begins October 26–28 with A Pirate’s Life, as archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer Lisa Briggs takes audiences on the hunt for some of history’s greatest treasures and explores how pirating shaped civilizations. Then, from January 25–27, 2026, photographer Jaime Rojo explores the life of the monarch butterfly with never-before-seen images in Chasing Monarchs. From February 22–24, photographer Robbie Shone takes audiences to the world’s deepest caverns in Adventures in Caving. On March 22–24, see the remarkable wildlife of the famous Galapagos Islands in new ways with marine ecologist Alex Hearn’s Discovering the Galapagos. Then, from April 26–28, experience Uncovering Our Concrete Jungle with urban ecologist Chris Schell as he reveals the wildlife that roams our cities’ alleys and backyards. And finally, from May 17–19, biologist Gregg Treinish and his team head far beyond the limits of the horizon to obtain raw data that could change our understanding of Earth in Adventure for Change.
The National Geographic Live Seattle Speaker Series is presented by Benaroya Hall and the Seattle Symphony. The orchestra does not perform in these programs.
Ticket Information
To purchase tickets for the National Geographic Live Seattle Speaker Series, please visit benaroyahall.org/natgeo. Subscriptions are currently on sale and single tickets will go on sale July 1, 2025. The Seattle Symphony Ticket Office is located in Benaroya Hall, at Third Avenue and Union Street. The Ticket Office can be reached by phone at 206.215.4747 during the following times: Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A PIRATE’S LIFE
LISA BRIGGS | ARCHAEOLOGIST
Sunday, October 26, at 2pm
Monday, October 27, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, October 28, at 7:30pm
CHASING MONARCHS
JAIME ROJO | PHOTOGRAPHER
Sunday, January 25, at 2pm
Monday, January 26, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, January 27, at 7:30pm
ADVENTURES IN CAVING
ROBBIE SHONE | PHOTOGRAPHER
Sunday, February 22, at 2pm
Monday, February 23, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, February 24, at 7:30pm
DISCOVERING THE GALAPAGOS
ALEX HEARN | MARINE ECOLOGIST
Sunday, March 22, at 2pm
Monday, March 23, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30pm
UNCOVERING OUR CONCRETE JUNGLE
CHRIS SCHELL | URBAN ECOLOGIST
Sunday, April 26, at 2pm
Monday, April 27, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 28, at 7:30pm
ADVENTURE FOR CHANGE
GREGG TREINISH | BIOLOGIST
Sunday, May 17, at 2pm
Monday, May 18, at 7:30pm
Tuesday, May 19, at 7:30pm
SEATTLE SYMPHONY
The Seattle Symphony unleashes the power of music, brings people together and lifts the human spirit. Recognized as one of the “most vital American orchestras” (NPR), the Seattle Symphony is internationally acclaimed for its inventive programming, community-minded initiatives and superb recordings on the Seattle Symphony Media label. With a strong commitment to new music and a legacy of over 150 recordings, the orchestra has won five Grammy Awards, 27 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards and was named Gramophone’s 2018 Orchestra of the Year. The Symphony performs in Benaroya Hall in the heart of downtown Seattle from September through July, reaching over 750,000 people annually through live performances and radio broadcasts, and through the Seattle Symphony+ streaming service, the orchestra’s concerts reach audiences at home and around the world.
BENAROYA HALL
Benaroya Hall, the home of the Seattle Symphony, is located in downtown Seattle. Opened in 1998, Benaroya Hall is the most-visited performing arts venue in Seattle. It has received numerous awards, including a 2001 American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Award for outstanding architecture. Benaroya Hall has three versatile performance venues, the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall and Octave 9: Raisbeck Music Center, all renowned for their pristine acoustics, luxurious design and prime location. For additional information, including rental information, event listings and public tour schedules, please visit benaroyahall.org.
National Geographic Live introduces audiences to the awe-inspiring stories of National Geographic Explorers and trailblazers through immersive live events. A dynamic array of speakers, including esteemed photographers, scientists, filmmakers and adventurers, share their firsthand experiences from the front lines of exploration. These engaging narratives, accompanied by unforgettable imagery and compelling footage, come to life on stage at performing arts centers across North America and around the world.
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National Geographic Live Media Sponsors: Cascade PBS and KUOW