The Real Estate Symposium at Harvard University

On April 11, 2026, the Harvard Real Estate Symposium convenes students, alumni, and industry leaders for a full day of thoughtful dialogue on the forces reshaping the built environment. Held at Harvard University, the Symposium is designed not as a trade show or pitch event, but as a forum for serious conversation about where real estate has been and where it is headed next.

The day opens with a keynote reflecting on the recent past of the industry. This conversation will take a candid look at the cycle we have just experienced, the lessons learned from volatility in capital markets, and the structural shifts that have redefined risk, return, and resilience across asset classes.

From there, main stage panels bring together senior investors, developers, operators, policymakers, and academics to examine the most pressing themes in real estate today. Discussions will span capital markets and refinancing risk, data centers and AI infrastructure, affordable housing, senior housing, hospitality, placemaking, sustainability, infrastructure, and the evolving intersection of law and policy. Each panel is structured to surface competing viewpoints and encourage substantive, unscripted exchange.

Breakout panels offer deeper dives into specific sectors and strategies, while interactive forums create space for audience participation. These smaller sessions are designed to move beyond surface commentary and invite debate, practical insight, and cross-disciplinary thinking among peers and practitioners.

The Symposium concludes with a forward-looking keynote focused on the decade ahead. This discussion will explore what may define the next cycle, who will shape the future of capital formation, development, and ownership, and how leaders can position themselves in a world of structural change.

Throughout the day, attendees will have opportunities to connect with peers, alumni, faculty, and industry professionals in both structured and informal settings, culminating in an evening networking reception.

The Harvard Real Estate Symposium 2026 is an invitation to step back from day-to-day execution and engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of the built world.

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Host or Publisher HBS Real Estate Club