LAHORE (National Times) -ThinkFest 2026 is set to return to Lahore with a packed three-day programme featuring leading global scholars, policymakers, journalists, artists, and activists, turning Alhamra, The Mall, into a hub of debate and dialogue from January 23 to 25.With free entry and no passes required, the festival continues its tradition of open public engagement, bringing complex global and national issues into accessible public conversations.The opening day on Friday sets a strong geopolitical and intellectual tone. Renowned academic Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University joins Raza Rumi to examine Pakistan’s positioning between the United States and China, while a later session sees Nasr in conversation with Najam Sethi on the Gaza war and its implications for the remaking of the Middle East. Climate governance also features prominently, with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr and WWF Pakistan Director General Hammad Naqi assessing whether Pakistan’s climate frameworks are delivering tangible results.