Turning Point USA is hosting its four-day AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center to honor founder Charlie Kirk after his September death at a Turning Point event in Utah. The summit will feature high-profile conservative speakers including Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk, who will headline and promote her late husband’s book. Organizers expect more than 30,000 attendees, offering activism training, meetings with over 100 groups, and efforts to mobilize young voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
AmericaFest 2025: Turning Point USA Honors Charlie Kirk With Four-Day Phoenix Summit Expected To Draw 30,000
Charlie Kirk, president and founder of Turning Point USA, speaks during AmericaFest 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 22, 2024.
Turning Point USA is holding its four-day AmericaFest conference at the Phoenix Convention Center to honor the life and work of founder Charlie Kirk following his death at a September event in Orem, Utah. The gathering brings together prominent figures from the MAGA and broader conservative movement and aims to energize young activists ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Speakers, Program, And Purpose
The conference lineup includes Vice President JD Vance, who is scheduled to deliver the Sunday keynote, and Erika Kirk, who is headlining the program and planning a media tour to promote her late husband’s book. Other featured speakers include Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, among others.
Turning Point USA executive director Charlie Kirk speaks during AmericaFest on Dec. 22, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona.
AmericaFest is billed as a "powerful celebration of faith, freedom, and the legacy of founder Charlie Kirk," and offers students opportunities to meet with more than 100 organizations, attend activism training sessions, and participate in networking and issue-focused workshops designed to build the next generation of conservative leaders.
Context And Reaction
The event comes as Turning Point USA continues to respond to the September shooting that killed Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point event at Utah Valley University. As part of the lead-up to AmericaFest, Turning Point USA published a birthday tribute titled 31 Ways To Live Like Charlie Kirk and described the conference as a way to carry forward his mission.
Then President-elect Donald Trump speaks during AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, on Dec. 22, 2024.
Riley Gaines reflected on Kirk's influence, saying he changed lives not just by speaking, but by listening and by pointing a generation toward faith and hope.
Organizers expect this year to be the organization’s largest AmericaFest yet, with more than 30,000 attendees anticipated. Leaders say the timing, ahead of the 2026 midterms, is intended to mobilize young voters and strengthen grassroots infrastructure on college campuses across the country.
Outlook
Turning Point USA officials and speakers emphasize debate, civil engagement, and activism as central themes for the conference. Erika Kirk told Fox & Friends that participants must counter ideas they disagree with by offering better alternatives and engaging in dialogue. Fox News Digital's Tessa Hoyos contributed reporting to the original coverage.
