By Keerthi Ramesh
Students at Harvard University are gearing up to host the 23rd annual India Conference, a two-day gathering that has become one of the most vibrant student-led forums on Indian business, policy and culture in the United States.
The event, scheduled for Feb. 14–15, 2026, will bring together academics, industry leaders and cultural voices to explore India’s evolving global role and future trajectory.
Organized entirely by a coalition of Harvard undergraduate and graduate students, the India Conference has grown over more than two decades into a platform that attracts more than 1,000 attendees, with 30 + panel discussions and more than 100 speakers from around the world.
This year’s theme, “The India We Imagine,” invites participants to reflect on the values, challenges and opportunities shaping India’s identity and global influence. The framework is built around three main questions: Who we are (culture and belonging), What we navigate (complexities and pathways), and How we build (change-makers and institutions).
READ: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shashi Tharoor, PV Sindhu and more at Harvard India Conference 2026 (
The agenda brings together regular panel discussions and hands-on sessions focused on innovation and practical solutions. One of the key attractions was a start-up pitch competition, where early-stage founders presented their ideas to investors for a chance to win up to $15,000 in prize money. There was also a policy hackathon that invited participants to come up with solutions to real-world challenges like improving access to credit and digitizing land records.
Beyond the conversations, the conference also emphasizes creative expression. Art@ICH, an exhibition of Indian art and design, features emerging artists and explores how visual culture shapes perceptions and narratives. Attendees will also experience musical performances, networking events and workshops that bridge cultural and professional exchange.
Organizers say the conference’s strength lies in its diversity of perspective, from seasoned policymakers to entrepreneurs, and from artists to athletes. The roster of confirmed speakers includes author and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor, global film star Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu and business leader Rohit Jawa, among others.
READ: Harvard students to host India Conference in Feb. 2026 (
Past iterations of the conference have featured wide-ranging discussions that touched on technology, climate change, economic policy and cultural diplomacy. Panels have examined how digital platforms are reshaping media landscapes and how India’s business environment is adapting to global pressures and opportunities.
Students behind the event describe it as more than an academic exercise it’s a space for forging frameworks that link India’s present dynamism with its future direction. “The India Conference is about engaging with leaders to create sustainable partnerships as a means of exchange between India and the world,” one co-chair said in a previous year’s interview, echoing the conference’s mission to foster enduring dialogue.
As the conference enters its third decade, it continues to attract both established voices and emerging thinkers eager to position India at the center of global conversation academically, economically and culturally.