There’s a lot of change happening in Richmond right now, and most of it can feel out of our hands. But the reality is, there are people in leadership shaping how the city and state grow, who it’s for, and where it’s going next. At some point, you either tune it out or start paying closer attention to who’s making those decisions and what they’re saying, because it affects all of us.
That’s part of the thinking behind our decision to partner with the Big Dipper Innovation Summit this year, bringing a bit of local culture into the mix. It’s a chance to hear directly from the people in those positions, whether they’re elected officials, business leaders, or the voices shaping how things move across the region. It also opens the door for our readers to step into those conversations instead of watching them from the outside.
When people from different worlds end up in the same room, it’s not a conference for the sake of it. It becomes something closer to an ongoing, working conversation in real time. That’s what the Big Dipper Innovation Summit is aiming for as it returns May 12–14 at Main Street Station.
Now in its latest iteration, the summit, still very much a work in progress, is positioning itself at the intersection of business, technology, policy, and culture.
If you’re trying to get a clearer sense of how decisions are being shaped in Virginia right now, it makes sense to start at the top. Governor Abigail Spanberger is part of this year’s lineup, offering a window into how policy, growth, and the direction of the state are being approached at the highest level.
From there, the conversation widens. What starts with public leadership moves into how those decisions intersect with capital, innovation, and influence at a much broader scale. This year’s speaker lineup reflects that mix, with Tom Gayner and Erin Harkless Moore bringing perspectives from long-term investing and impact-driven capital, alongside voices like Issa Rae, Everette Taylor, Kevin Roose, and Dhani Jones, who sit closer to media, technology, and culture on a national level.
It’s a range that moves from government to big business to the institutions and personalities shaping how ideas actually travel. University leadership from across Virginia is also part of that mix, tying in the academic side of how the next wave of talent and thinking gets developed.
Organizers are framing the three days as a progression rather than a series of disconnected panels. Day one leans into new ideas and early-stage thinking. Day two looks at the systems that support innovation, including capital, infrastructure, and culture. By day three, the focus shifts toward action, how those ideas turn into actual decisions.
The conversation is important for Richmond, which is still figuring out how to position itself in a larger innovation economy without losing what makes it distinct, which in large part what is driving the city’s growth. Events like this can sometimes feel like they drop in and disappear, but Big Dipper is making a case for something more embedded, especially with programming that extends beyond the main stage.
That includes community-focused initiatives tied to local schools and regional partnerships, along with evening programming across the city meant to keep conversations going after the sessions end.
For Richmond, the real question is what carries over once it’s done. Whether those conversations stay in the room or start to show up in the city itself. The Summit offers a chance to hear how those ideas are being shaped in real time.
The Big Dipper Innovation Summit wraps Thursday night with the BDIS26 Summit Block Party in Scott’s Addition, a free, public celebration featuring the high-energy, summer-ready sounds of The Main Squeeze and Hot Like Mars.
It takes place Thursday, May 14 from 6–9 PM on Bellville Street between W. Moore and Norfolk Streets, bringing live music and one last chance to carry the energy of the week forward. It’s free and open to everyone.
Registration is open now at BigDipperSummit.com, with full programming continuing to roll out ahead of May.
After The Summit: A Post-Event Gathering at The Hof
As part of this year’s partnership, RVA Magazine is also hosting an official post-summit gathering designed to keep the conversation going once the day’s sessions wrap.
After The Summit
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
6–9 PM
The Library at Harry’s at The Hof + Rooftop
Free to attend
Facebook event post HERE
RVA Magazine, Big Dipper Innovation Summit, and Harry’s at The Hof present After The Summit, a post-summit gathering designed to wind things down while keeping the conversation going.
Set across The Library and rooftop at The Hof, the evening blends a guided spirits/wine tasting, live music, and open networking in a setting that moves naturally from early evening conversation into a more social, open-ended close to the night.
The full Harry’s restaurant on the ground floor will also be open throughout the evening, offering additional space to settle in, grab a drink, or move between floors as the night unfolds.
The evening begins from 6–7 PM in The Library with Manifesto Hour, an early tasting experience built around food and drink education.
Guests can expect a guided tasting with insight into flavor profiles and technique, all set within a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere that invites conversation. Food and additional beverages will be available for purchase for those who want to extend the experience.
From 7–9 PM, the night opens up across both spaces, with energy building as the evening progresses.
On the rooftop, live music from Theocles brings a more elevated, energetic feel, with skyline views, bar seating, and space to move easily between conversations and moments.
Inside, The Library offers a counterpoint, where Elliott and Aimée Lauren, known together as The Butter Co., provide a curated soundtrack that keeps things moving.
Facebook event post HERE
Support RVA Magazine. Support Independent Media in Richmond.
At a time when media ownership is increasingly concentrated among corporations and the wealthy, RVA Magazine has remained one of Richmond’s few independent voices. Since 2005, the magazine has provided grassroots coverage of the city’s artists, musicians, and communities, documenting the culture that defines Richmond beyond the headlines.
But we can’t do this without you. A small donation, even as little as $2, one-time or recurring, helps us continue to produce honest, local coverage free from outside interference. Every dollar makes a difference. Your support keeps us going and keeps RVA’s creative spirit alive. Thank you for standing with independent media. DONATE HERE.
We’ve got merch HERE
Subscribe to the Substack HERE
And Reddit HERE
And YouTube HERE
