C-SPAN will provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of the 2026 Republican Convention starting on Wednesday in Dallas, while Fox News and NewsNation are planning special programming.
But most other news networks are taking a wait-and-see approach, planning coverage of the first-of-its-kind midterm gathering if news warrants.
While networks have reporters on the ground for the political event, some of the newsiest aspects of the event so far have been on GOP candidates in tight races who have opted to stay away amid the president’s sagging poll numbers.
Donald Trump will have a major presence at the event, and is scheduled to speak on both nights of the gathering. There is no debate over the political nature of his appearances — something that makes a difference in networks’ decisions on whether to carry speeches live. And as was the case in July, not all White House addresses get live carriage. When Trump gave an address on election security, ABC, NBC and CNN did not carry it live, amid concerns that he would veer into unfounded stolen election claims.
Watch on Deadline
C-SPAN is billing itself as the only network to carry the convention in its entirety — from 3 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET — with uninterrupted coverage of speeches, but it will also feature reporters and political analysts before and after each day’s sessions. Greta Brawner, host and executive producer, will be in Washington, and host and on-site producer Kate Michel will be in Dallas.
As of now, in addition to C-SPAN, Fox News is planning extensive coverage, with The Story with Martha MacCallum, The Will Cain Show, Special Report with Bret Baier and The Ingraham Angle a mong those broadcasting live from the American Airlines Center. On both nights, Sean Hannity will host two hour versions of his show, from 9 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET, and FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher will go for 90 minutes on Thursday night starting at 11 p.m. ET. Fox Nation will offer live streams of the convention.
NewsNation will feature two-hour live coverage on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with Leland Vittert anchoring from 9 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET. Providing a counter to the GOP speakers will be James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, who will be interviewed by Vittert on Wednesday evening. Following the primetime coverage, Katie Pavlich will host a special edition of her show at 11 p.m. ET, live from inside the arena.
The midterm convention is breaking with a tradition of parties meeting once every four years for national gatherings, events that typically draw night-after-night coverage on national broadcast and cable networks even if the news value is questionable. They long have been slickly produced promotional weeks for presidential candidates, and even showcases for network personalities and promotion. This year, Democrats are not hosting their own midterm convention, so there will be no opportunity for a natural balance. In fact, as C-SPAN carries the GOP convention, on C-SPAN 2 it will be offering live and recorded events of Democratic candidates in key races in states like Maine, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Texas.
Others on the roster of speakers include Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Donald Trump Jr. Also scheduled as Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Scott Turner, secretary of Housing and Urban Development. House Speaker Mike Johnson will speak, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune is not on the roster. Ken Paxton, in a tight race with Talarico, is also on the lineup.
