Organized by Harvard & MIT Students

Harvard-MIT Ukraine Trek 2026

An immersive trek for students and alumni who want to engage with Ukraine’s leadership, resilience, innovation, and recovery firsthand. The 2026 preparation has begun, so register if you are interested to stay in the loop.

One Week Last year’s trek brought participants together for an immersive, multi-day experience.

Multiple Cities Participants traveled between the capital and western Ukraine for a broader perspective.

Cross-sector Government, civil society, innovation, culture, and recovery were all part of the experience.

Join the interest list See the vision

Why this trek

Why Ukraine?

Ukraine remains the most relevant country in the world today for anyone interested in geopolitics, democratic resilience, defense innovation, public leadership, recovery, and national identity.

Learning

Gain firsthand insight into policy challenges, economic recovery, security strategy, and leadership under pressure.

Geopolitics

Engage with one of the defining conflicts shaping the global order and democratic resilience.

Innovation

Witness advances in defense tech, digital infrastructure, and public-private collaboration.

What to expect

An immersive and wide-ranging trek.

Last year’s trek combined high-level meetings, site visits, cultural context, and on-the-ground learning. It gave participants a chance to engage directly with the people and institutions shaping Ukraine’s present and future.

Senior officials, activists, and NGOs Engage with leading Ukrainian voices across government, civil society, and public life.

Defense tech, resilience, and recovery Explore the country’s response through innovation, defense technology, and rebuilding efforts.

Business, innovation, and digital transformation Meet organizations and founders building under extraordinary conditions.

History, culture, and identity Explore Ukraine’s rich history and gain firsthand insight into the country’s identity and civic spirit.

A glimpse of the experience

From public leadership to cultural life.

Previous participants encountered policymakers, universities, NGOs, innovators, cultural institutions, recovery initiatives, and communities living with the realities of war and resilience every day.

In the capital

The capital portion emphasized political leadership, wartime governance, innovation ecosystems, humanitarian response, and places where Ukraine’s recent history can be felt directly.

In western Ukraine

The western part of the trek broadened into culture, universities, rehabilitation, civic resilience, local leadership, and the longer arc of recovery and reconstruction.

Ukraine Trek 2026 in pictures

Ukraine Trek 2025 - A Visual Journey

Kyiv City Hall lit against the evening sky.

Kyiv civic life

Enjoying culture and cuisine in Kyiv

A striking first impression of Ukrainian hospitality, with world-class cuisine and culture served by famous chefs.

History and identity

Discover the soul behind the headlines

Beyond geopolitics, the trek opens a window into Ukraine's spiritual depth, historical memory, and the cultural foundations of national identity.

Kyiv

See the reality of Ukrainians

Every street and skyline reveals another layer of Ukraine's past and present, turning the city itself into part of the contemporary learning experience.

Historic Kyiv church scene tied to the deeper history of Ukraine and Russia.

History and memory

Explore the roots of Ukraine's history

Dive into Ukraine's history and the long pre-story of the war at places like the Holodomor Memorial. Experts will explain the history between Ukraine and Russia, and why Ukraine's identity and sovereignty must be understood on their own terms.

Train station scene from the first day in Kyiv.

Movement and logistics

Experience the pulse of a country in motion

From arrival onward, the trek is immersive and real, shaped by the movement, infrastructure, and everyday determination that keep Ukraine going.

Scene from Bucha and Irpin during the trek.

Witness and recovery

Experience resilience in Irpin & Bucha

In places marked by loss and rebuilding, participants encounter the courage, honesty, and determination that define Ukraine's recovery.

Defense of Kyiv

Hear about heroism

Visit the places where Ukrainian defenders fought back the Russian invaders during the defense of Kyiv, and hear firsthand how courage, sacrifice, and resistance shaped the country's survival.

Security context

Understand the stakes up close

The trek offers direct exposure to the security realities shaping Europe today, giving context that no classroom or news feed can fully replicate.

Lviv

Step into the texture of western Ukraine

Lviv adds warmth, cultural richness, and a wider perspective, showing how daily life, creativity, and civic pride endure under pressure.

Culture and arts

Experience Ukraine's unique culture

From ballet to architecture to music and literature, the trek reveals a cultural tradition that is vibrant, distinctive, and central to Ukraine's national life.

University visits

Learn about recovery and survival

Visits to the superhuman medical complex and leading universities connect the trek directly to scientific frontiers, ideas, and institution-building.

Security approach

We are preparing carefully.

Safety is central to how the trek is designed. Last year’s trek happened during one of the largest air raids, but we made sure everyone is safe and protected. This is assured through disciplined protocols, close coordination with local partners, and a realistic understanding of wartime routines.

Local coordination

We coordinate closely with partners and local experts on the ground.

Shelter-aware logistics

Hotels, venues, and transportation are planned with alerts, shelters, and emergency procedures in mind.

Flexible schedules

Plans may change depending on the situation on the ground, and adaptability is part of the trek.

Preparedness and wellbeing

Practical briefings, clear protocols, and attention to participant wellbeing are part of the preparation.

Who is this trek for?

People who are curious, engaged, and resilient.

Curious For people with a global mindset and a serious interest in policy, conflict, innovation, and recovery.

Engaged For active listeners who want to learn, contribute, and be fully present.

Resilient and mission-driven Best suited for people who are emotionally mature, adaptable, and motivated to understand and support Ukraine’s future.

The best way to hear and learn about Ukraine is from the people who are there: leaders, builders, organizers, innovators, and communities carrying the country forward.

Stay in the loop

Sign up now to get updates first for the Ukraine Trek 2026.

If you want to be part of the most exciting and important trek of the year and hear first when applications open, reach out now. We would love to keep you in the loop as Ukraine Trek 2026 takes shape.

Contact

ukrainetrek.team@gmail.com

Slava Ukraini

Honor to the people, culture, courage, and future that this trek invites participants to encounter firsthand.