New Hampshire voters will have multiple chances to hear directly from candidates in the 2026 midterm races this fall as NHPR and the Granite State News Collaborative roll out a statewide forum series. The events, held in partnership with local news organizations, will bring candidates for governor, both U.S. House districts and the U.S. Senate into community spaces such as breweries, cafes and performance venues.
Format, access and participation
Organizers said each forum will be moderated by local journalists from NHPR or partner newsrooms and will be open to the public at no charge. Doors will open an hour before each event, and attendees are asked to register in advance. For those who cannot attend in person, forums will be broadcast on NHPR and posted on NHPR.org the day after each event.
NHPR and the collaborative are encouraging residents to shape the conversations by submitting questions in advance. The outlet provided a contact for that purpose: [email protected]. The emphasis on local venues and journalistic moderators is intended to foster community-level interaction and ensure that moderators reflect regional concerns and knowledge.
Forum schedule and locations
The schedule spans October, with events staged in locations across the state. Below is the publicly announced schedule and broadcast timing:
| Race | Venue / Town | Event Date | Doors / Forum Time | Broadcast Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congressional District 1 | Twin Barns Brewing Co., Meredith | Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026 | Doors 5:00 p.m. | Forum 6:00 p.m. | Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. |
| Congressional District 2 | Brewbaker Cafe, Keene | Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 | Doors 5:00 p.m. | Forum 6:00 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. |
| Governor | Harpoon at Queen City Center, Manchester | Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 | Doors 5:00 p.m. | Forum 6:00 p.m. | Friday, Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. & 7 p.m. |
| U.S. Senate | Venue and date details announced in partnership with the Val(ley) | Details pending | Doors 5:00 p.m. | Forum 6:00 p.m. (typical) | Broadcast the next day on NHPR |
How communities are involved
The collaborative is partnering with local newsrooms for each event to root discussions in community concerns. Partners named for the announced forums include the Laconia Daily Sun for the 1st Congressional District event and the Keene Sentinel and Monadnock Ledger Transcript for the 2nd District. The Manchester forum is in partnership with Manchester Ink Link.
- Admission to all events is free, but pre-registration is requested.
- Organizers encourage residents to submit questions in advance via email to help set priorities.
- Forums are designed to be accessible to listeners statewide through NHPR broadcasts and online posting.
Local venues were chosen to emphasize accessibility and to bring the campaign conversation into shared public spaces. The use of community hubs such as breweries and cafes reflects a growing trend of holding political events outside traditional auditoriums to attract diverse audiences and encourage more informal civic engagement.
Why these forums matter
New Hampshire’s 2026 races include high-profile contests for governor, U.S. Senate and both U.S. House seats. With the state’s small size and engaged electorate, in-person forums can have outsized influence on voter impressions and media coverage in the weeks leading up to the election. By working with local newsrooms, NHPR and the Granite State News Collaborative aim to ensure that forums reflect regional priorities and that journalists with local knowledge lead questioning.
For residents who cannot attend, the next-day broadcasts provide another chance to hear the exchanges and candidate responses. Organizers reiterated that while events are free, space may be limited at some venues and early registration is recommended.
Details on how to register for each forum are available through the partners and NHPR’s event pages. Voters and community members can also propose questions and topics for moderators to consider by emailing [email protected].
