Berkeley Public Policy Conference 2026: Seismic Shifts

The Berkeley Public Policy Conference and Alumni Gathering is an annual convening that brings together policy practitioners, researchers, students, and alumni of UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, alongside members of the broader public policy community. The conference creates space for rigorous dialogue, cross-sector connection, and collaboration around some of the most urgent challenges of our time—from climate changing and housing affordability to emerging technologies, economic inequality, and the resilience of democratic institutions.

This year’s theme, Seismic Shifts: Policy Choices in a Changing World, reflects a moment of profound global and domestic transformation. Power is realigning, institutions are being tested, technologies are reshaping daily life, and long-standing assumptions about governance, markets, and democracy are under strain. Amid this disruption, policymakers and communities alike face critical choices that will shape the future.