#  The Harvard Summer School in Greece – Summer 2026 Edition 

 





August 26, 2026

 

 

 ![Harvard Summer School students in front of the Treasury of Atreus at Mycenae during an educational visit.](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/2026-08/IMG_6233.jpg)

 

## 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](/seminar-programs/summer-school "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, extending longstanding partnerships between CHS and these institutions in Greece and China; relationships that have now continued for more than fifteen years. 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, visits to sites and museums of interest, and artistic activities in various parts of northern Greece while Thessaloniki served as the program's base, as well as in Athens and the wider Argolid region during the period when the program was based in Nafplio.

Reflecting on their experience, the students emphasized the close connection between classroom instruction and fieldwork, as well as the sense of community that developed over five weeks of shared classes, meals, and travel. Many particularly valued the opportunity to learn from a different instructor and explore a new topic each week, as the program featured seven distinct seminar series taught by eight faculty members. They also spoke about how everyday moments developed into close friendships and how the combination of seminars and excursions allowed them, as one student put it, to do "so many wonderful things." When asked what advice they would offer future participants, they encouraged them to arrive with an open mind, build connections with the group from the outset, and, as one student summarized, "enjoy every moment and find the right balance between studying and having fun." As another student remarked, the most difficult part of the program was simply reaching its end: "I loved it so much! I'm sorry it's ending, but I'm glad I got to experience it!"

You can browse this year's journey through photos in the [2026 Harvard Summer School in Greece Facebook album](https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1479430744227636&type=3), 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.



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Seminar-based Programs ](/activities-type/seminar-based-programs)
- [ Mobility ](/activities-field/mobility)
- [ Harvard undergraduate students ](/target-audience/harvard-undergraduates)
- [ Undergraduate students non-Harvard ](/target-audience/undergraduates)
 
 

 Share on:- [     Facebook ](#)
- [     Twitter ](#)
- [     Linkedin ](#)