Vice President JD Vance is heading back to Phoenix. Turning Point USA announced he will headline this year's AmericaFest convention, set for Dec. 17-20 at the Phoenix Convention Center, where the organization expects thousands of political activists, media personalities and high-profile conservatives to pack the downtown venue for four days of speeches, organizing and networking.
The vice president previously delivered the closing keynote at AmericaFest 2025, when he used the Phoenix stage to tout zero southern border releases over seven consecutive months and to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk's legacy, according to 12News. His return this December, reported by KTAR News 92.3 FM, cements his role as the convention's flagship speaker for a second consecutive year.
This year's scheduled lineup, as detailed in the same report, is stacked with familiar conservative names: Erika Kirk, Donald Trump Jr., Riley Gaines, Karoline Leavitt, Jesse Watters, Franklin Graham, Tulsi Gabbard, Steve Bannon, Ben Carson, Matt Gaetz and James O'Keefe are all slated to appear, alongside other Trump administration officials and prominent media personalities. The event carries the theme Restore the Culture and will offer breakout sessions on grassroots political organizing and religious faith, per the outlet's reporting.
A Convention Built on Explosive Growth
Turning Point USA is headquartered in Phoenix, and AmericaFest has grown rapidly since its launch. The 2025 edition set an all-time attendance record, drawing 30,000 attendees to the Phoenix Convention Center, up from roughly 20,000 in 2024, according to KJZZ.
Turning Point USA is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt advocacy group founded in 2012.
Leadership Transition Shapes the Convention's Tone
Erika Kirk's presence on the speaker list reflects a leadership shift that followed tragedy. After Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, the organization's board unanimously appointed his widow as chief executive officer and board chair on Sept. 18, 2025, the Guardian reported at the time. Erika Kirk also addressed AmericaFest 2025 as the organization's first post-tragedy gathering, Hoodline previously reported.
Her institutional ties to Washington have deepened since. President Donald Trump appointed her to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors in March 2026, according to Turning Point USA's own announcement. That same month, the organization opened a regional storefront headquarters in Las Vegas, with Erika Kirk and Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo attending the ceremony.
Tickets, Access and the Venue's Scale
General admission for AmericaFest 2026 is priced at $100 for adults and $50 for students, with VIP packages offering access to a VIP lounge, exclusive meet-and-greets and other amenities, per the KTAR report. Registration is currently open on the organization's official website.
The Phoenix Convention Center will again host the event.
From the Convention Floor to College Campuses
Beyond the Phoenix stage, Turning Point USA's work includes student outreach and local chapters. That campus-level organizing has played out in flashpoints well beyond Arizona, including a recent debate and chapter event at the University of Memphis featuring TPUSA representative Will Witt, which Hoodline covered this month.
As December approaches, the four-day gathering will once again test how much larger Turning Point USA's flagship event can grow, with Vance's return headlining a lineup that organizers say reflects the breadth of the conservative movement's current political alliances.
