The University of Delaware’s Center for Economic Education and Entrepreneurship (CEEE), in partnership with NFP (formerly Lyons Companies), will host its annual 2026 Economic Forecast on Thursday, Feb. 19, bringing nationally recognized experts to campus to examine the economic forces shaping the year ahead.

The event will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Audion at UD’s STAR Campus (100 Discovery Blvd., Newark). Designed as both an expert briefing and a public forum, the forecast will explore key economic issues influencing the U.S. economy, including monetary policy, financial markets and the political landscape in Washington. The program will feature panel discussions and an audience Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers.

Featured speakers include Patrick T. Harker, Rowan Distinguished Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; and Director of Academic Engagement at Penn Washington at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Harker also serves as President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. He will be joined by Michael K. Farr, chairman of FarrCrest Capital, LLC, and Leland Vittert, host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and chief Washington anchor for NewsNation.

Together, the speakers will offer diverse perspectives on how economic policy decisions, market trends and political developments intersect — and what those dynamics may mean for businesses, households and communities in 2026.

The 2026 Economic Forecast is open to the UD community and the public.