The Harvard Summer School in Greece – Summer 2026 Edition

From Thessaloniki to Nafplio: Summer 2026 with the Harvard Summer School in Greece

For the twenty-third year running, the Harvard Summer School Program in Greece brought a group of students to Thessaloniki and Nafplio, running this year from June 27 to August 2, with CHS Greece once again providing administrative and logistical support throughout. As in recent editions, the first two weeks unfolded in Thessaloniki and the following three in Nafplio, with a short stay in Athens bridging the two halves of the program and adding an extra layer of exploration to the five weeks abroad.

Fifteen students made up this year's cohort: ten from Harvard, and one each from Boston University and Smith College. They were joined by two students from the University of Patras and one from Fudan University, continuing scholarship partnerships between CHS and these institutions in Greece and China, now more than a decade strong. Together, the group brought a wide range of academic backgrounds and personal perspectives to the seminar table.

This year's seminars were organized around the theme "Political and Natural Environments of the Eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity to the Present: Comparative Cultural Approaches". Over five weeks, students explored topics ranging from sacred landscapes and empire to migration and displacement, building a truly interdisciplinary view of the Eastern Mediterranean. Coursework was paired with excursions, site visits, and performances across all three destinations: from the Palace of Aigai and Philippi when in Thessaloniki, to the Acropolis Museum, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens, to Mycenae and the ancient theater of Epidaurus in Nafplio.

In their evaluations, students praised the strong link between coursework and real-world experience, and the close community that formed over five weeks of shared classes, meals, and travel. Many appreciated hearing a different professor and topic each week, and the balance between academic demands and cultural immersion. That same sense of community came through in students' own words, too. They spoke of the everyday moments that turned into lasting friendships, and of a rhythm of seminars and excursions that let them, as one student put it, do "so many cool things". Asked what advice they'd pass on to next year's group, the answers were almost all some version of the same idea: come with an open mind, bond with the group early, and – as one student summed it up – "enjoy every moment, and find the right balance between studying and having fun." For many, the hardest part was simply that it had to end: "Loved it! So sad it's ending, but happy it happened!".

You can browse this year's journey through photos in the 2026 Harvard Summer School in Greece Facebook album, with more glimpses on our social media. We also invite you to watch the video below, with highlights from the 2026 program.

Our thanks go to the 2026 students and faculty for another rewarding chapter of this program. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort next summer.