Policy Week Ahead — Oct 12 – 18, 2026
150 events150 think tank events from 60 organizations across 27 policy topics the week of Oct 12 – 18, 2026. Busiest topics: United States (85), Global (52), Diplomacy (49). Most active organizers: Harvard Kennedy School (27), American Enterprise Institute (9), Aspen Institute (7). Multi-day: Press conference: Hezbollah unveils 'Promise and Commitment' housing-assistance program — Oct 13, 2026 (Ghobeiry municipal center), Meeting at the Grand Serail: Prime Minister Nawaf Salam meets Amal and Hezbollah lawmakers on reconstruction — Oct 13, 2026, East Asia’s economic outlook — with World Bank's Carlos Felipe Jaramillo (Oct 13, 2026, 10:00 ICT). New since last week: 1 event. Last week the calendar listed 119 events. Times are US Eastern; each listing links to the event's own page.
Subscribe to this week's top topics
Diplomacy
49 eventsIPPL Principals Series: Conversation with Lt. Gen. George B. Rowell
Mon, Oct 12 · 3:15 PM EDT·Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Stanford University)In person
Conflict
30 eventsHuman Rights
28 eventsFinance
25 eventsNational Security
24 eventsIPPL Principals Series: Conversation with Lt. Gen. George B. Rowell
Mon, Oct 12 · 3:15 PM EDT·Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Stanford University)In person
The Iran War: How Does This End? | HTK Series
Wed, Oct 14 · time not announced·CSIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies)Virtual
Trade Policy
18 eventsElections
17 eventsThe Youth Vote and the Midterms — Teddy Landis & Jahnavi Rao — Oct 13, 2026 5:00pm ET (Littauer 280)
Climate Change
13 eventsAssessing the Potential for Cooling Climate and Altering Climate Risks Through Intentional Marine Cloud Brightening — Seminar with Sarah J. Doherty
Wed, Oct 14 · 1:30 PM EDT·Environment and Natural Resources Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (Harvard Kennedy School)In person
Defense Technology
12 eventsArtificial Intelligence
11 eventsThe Physical AI Alliance: U.S.-Japan Coordination for Industrial Deployment — October 14, 2026 (Tokyo, invitation-only)
Tue, Oct 13 · 11:00 AM EDT·NYU WISC (NYU Development Research Institute)In person
Economic Security in an Era of Global Technology Competition — Executive Education
Wed, Oct 14 · 12:00 AM EDT·Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) - Economic Security and Technology (EST)In person
Energy
10 eventsAssessing the Potential for Cooling Climate and Altering Climate Risks Through Intentional Marine Cloud Brightening — Seminar with Sarah J. Doherty
Wed, Oct 14 · 1:30 PM EDT·Environment and Natural Resources Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs (Harvard Kennedy School)In person
Supply Chain Security
9 eventsThe Physical AI Alliance: U.S.-Japan Coordination for Industrial Deployment — October 14, 2026 (Tokyo, invitation-only)
Tue, Oct 13 · 11:00 AM EDT·NYU WISC (NYU Development Research Institute)In person
Commodities
6 eventsFT Metals & Mining Summit — Panel participation by CSIS
Wed, Oct 14 · 7:00 PM EDT·Financial TimesIn person
Cybersecurity
5 eventsDisinformation
5 eventsSocial Media, Politics, and the 2026 Midterm Elections — Thu Oct 15 2026 7:00 p.m. PT (Virtual) — Kate Starbird
Thu, Oct 15 · 10:00 PM EDT·World Affairs Council of TacomaVirtual
Telecommunications
3 eventsUnited States
85 eventsIPPL Principals Series: Conversation with Lt. Gen. George B. Rowell
Mon, Oct 12 · 3:15 PM EDT·Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Stanford University)In person
Global
52 eventsIPPL Principals Series: Conversation with Lt. Gen. George B. Rowell
Mon, Oct 12 · 3:15 PM EDT·Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Stanford University)In person
Europe
25 eventsAsia-Pacific
22 eventsIPPL Principals Series: Conversation with Lt. Gen. George B. Rowell
Mon, Oct 12 · 3:15 PM EDT·Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (Stanford University)In person
The Physical AI Alliance: U.S.-Japan Coordination for Industrial Deployment — October 14, 2026 (Tokyo, invitation-only)
Tue, Oct 13 · 11:00 AM EDT·NYU WISC (NYU Development Research Institute)In person
Middle East
17 eventsAfrica
10 eventsChina
9 eventsOpportunities closing this week
Senior Research Fellow
Closes Mon, Oct 12·ODI GlobalJob
Africa Youth Portal and Research Programme Training Workshop 2027 – Call for Applications
Closes Wed, Oct 14·South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)Other
Host a Side Event at MSC 2027
Closes Sun, Oct 18·Munich Security ConferenceCall for papers