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WELCOME TO THE MONADNOCK SUMMER LYCEUM

Inform. Engage. Inspire. 

A free summer speaker series held Sundays in July and August in Peterborough, New Hampshire. 

Now in its 57th season, the Monadnock Summer Lyceum brings people together each summer for thoughtful conversation, music and the exchange of ideas in the Monadnock Region. Planning for the 2026 season is now underway, and we look forward to sharing the upcoming program in May.

If you have suggestions for speakers or topics, we welcome hearing from you. Please use the contact form on this website to share your ideas, request the printed brochure when it becomes available in May, or subscribe below to receive periodic email updates about the upcoming season.

Explore Past Programs

While we prepare for the summer ahead, we invite you to explore recordings from past Lyceum programs. Our archive includes audio recordings dating back to 2012 and video recordings beginning in 2020, offering a rich collection of thoughtful and engaging presentations to enjoy throughout the year.

If you missed a speaker you hoped to hear, you may find the program in the archive, along with many other talks that continue to inform and inspire. 

With Gratitude

The Monadnock Summer Lyceum is made possible through the generous support of speaker sponsors, community sponsors, local businesses, and individual donors whose contributions sustain this long-standing tradition of free public discourse and community learning.

We are especially grateful for the continuing support of organizations such as Belletetes Inc., Microspec Corporation, Monadnock Community Hospital, Peterborough Folk Music, The Putnam Foundation, and RiverMead, along with many generous individual supporters throughout the Monadnock region.

We look forward to welcoming you back this summer—in the pews or online! 

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If you are interested in supporting our extraordinary efforts please consider a tax deductible donation.

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2025 Speakers

Explore the list of books and films recommended by our speakers.

Listening to the Past
Sponsor: Bauhan Publishing
Why Are Ideas Dangerous?: The Fight for Academic Freedom on American Campuses
Sponsor: Belletetes Inc.
Stories for Health
Sponsor: Monadnock Community Hospital
Demystifying State and Local Government
Sponsor: Putnam Foundation
Musicals That Matter: From Showboat to Hamilton
Sponsor: Peterborough Folk Music
Making Room for the Audience: A Conversation with a Theatre and Film Director
Sponsor: Microspec Corporation
Poetry for Political and Social Change
Sponsor: RiverMead
Key to New Hampshire: How Zoning Shapes Our World
Sponsor: Cathy Cambal-Hayward, Realtor