Welcome to the European Conference 2026!
The European Conference, one of the most important events about Europe in the U.S., is organized by Harvard students to strengthen transatlantic dialogue. It brings together top scholars, policymakers, and leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to explore new pathways for action.
The 2026 edition marks the 12th consecutive year of the conference. Under the theme Crisis as Catalyst: Europe’s Opportunity in a Changing World Order, the 2026 edition will bring together over 750 academics, students, and future global leaders. Across 12 panels, flagship sessions, and fireside chats, the European Conference will address pivotal topics, notably the transatlantic relationship, innovation, and Europe’s place in a multipolar world.
Join us on February 6–7, 2026, in Cambridge as we rethink Europe’s role in shaping the next chapter of the global order.
The Conference in numbers
Special events
Friday 6, 2026, 4:00-5:15:
Keynote by Luc Frieden, Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Featured speakers
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Crisis as Catalyst: Europe’s Opportunity in a Changing World Order
Testimonials
Enrico Letta
Former Prime Minister of Italy
“Once again great event! I attended many times this initiative.”
“I would like to ask you to be very vocal and to be in a deep dive in these topics, because your expertise is absolutely fundamental.”
Filip Vanden Bulcke
Ambassador & Consul General of Belgium in New York
“The Belgian delegation was very impressed with the professional organization and high-level attendance at the Harvard European Conference 2025. The student-led conference was a great success, from the impeccable logistical organization to the rich substantive discussions. We certainly look forward to bringing another Belgian delegation next year.”
Petra Schneebauer
Ambassador of Austria to the United States
“It was a real honor for me to participate in this year’s student-led European Conference. There could’t have been a better topic than the one chosen – ‘Europe: Leaders or Dreamers’. You were all so eloquently able to demonstrate the challenges our beloved continent faces today. Thank you for dedicating an important panel to the Arts – as we have all witnessed, our rich cultural heritage can definitely contribute to a better world of tomorrow.”
Alberto Alemanno
Jean Monnet Professor of EU Law, HEC Paris, HKS non-resident Democracy Fellow, 2025-2026
“The European Conference has become the privileged forum for the Harvard community to discuss Europe’s developments with key doers, shakers, and scholars of EU integration. Long life to the Conference and to the transatlantic relationship.”
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