Lisbon, Portugal

June 18 & 19, 2026

Why Heroism?

Most people believe they will act courageously when a critical moment arrives. Research in social psychology suggests something more complicated: pressure, conformity, and uncertainty often cause ordinary people to hesitate.

The Hero Round Table brings together researchers, journalists, educators, and real-world heroes to explore how individuals and societies can prepare themselves for those moments.

The Experience

This is where research meets real-world courage.

At the Hero Round Table you will experience:

• powerful talks exploring the psychology of heroism

• real stories of courage and moral action

• conversations between researchers and practitioners

• a community of people who believe ordinary individuals can change the world

The Talks

The Hero Round Table brings together speakers from around the world and across disciplines.

The first event saw an ex-NFL player share the stage with a corporate trainer, the world's most famous psychologist, and a professional vagabond.

The second featured a Holocaust survivor, "America's Greatest Enemy", a Hollywood actress, and a bodyguard to the Dalai Lama.

You never know who you might be sitting next to or sharing lunch with at a Hero Round Table.

With hundreds of talks from previous events around the world, you can get a feeling of what HRT Lisboa will feel like.

Presented By

The Hero Round Table is a worldwide event series that inspires and instructs people to do extraordinary things. 

We put together top speakers with people of all walks of life and challenge them with the question - what is a hero? And how can more people do heroic things in our world?

"The stories from last year will leave a permanent imprint on me."

— Sonja Olshove, Professor from Michigan

INSPIRING & INSTRUCTIVE

The focus is on numerous high energy and punchy TED-like talks designed to inspire, motivate and showcase individual and everyday heroes and heroic initiatives. These sessions are presented alongside a series of practical workshops aimed at empowering attendees by providing them with the skills, knowledge and courage to stand up and be the heroes in their own lives and communities.

IMPACT

Most importantly, the Hero Round Table has created a worldwide community dedicated to practicing heroism. We have spurred academic research on what makes people do heroic things, and we help regular people act on what we've learned. We spread a simple idea: that you have the power to make a change when it matters most.

"Everyone there is making a difference.  It’s something I love being part of."

— Clive Williams, Psychologist from Australia

"I am now motivated to tap into the hero that I know is inside of me."

— Cara Young, Middle School Student from Michigan