The 88 ICANN Fellowship Is Opening Applications in July 2026

Every domain name on the internet. Every email address. The security protocols that keep global web traffic from collapsing into chaos.

All of it is governed by a single international organization called ICANN — and almost nobody outside the tech policy world has any meaningful input into how it operates.

The ICANN Fellowship Program exists to change that.

Three times a year, ICANN brings together its global community for a public meeting — and three times a year, it funds a cohort of fellows from underserved and underrepresented communities to attend, participate, and become active voices in the processes that shape how the internet actually works.

The next application window opens July 21, 2026. That’s weeks away. If internet governance, cybersecurity policy, domain name systems, or digital rights are anywhere near your professional interests — this is the deadline you should be preparing for right now.

What ICANN Actually Does — And Why It Matters

ICANN stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. It coordinates the global systems that make the internet function — domain names, IP addresses, internet protocols, and the root zone of the Domain Name System.

Put simply: without ICANN’s coordination, the internet as a navigable, globally connected network wouldn’t work.

What makes ICANN unusual among international bodies is its governance model. It operates through what’s called a multistakeholder approach — meaning decisions are made not by governments alone, but through participation from technical experts, civil society, academia, the private sector, and individual internet users from every region of the world.

In theory, that model gives everyone a voice. In practice, the people with the most consistent presence in ICANN processes tend to come from well-resourced organizations in well-represented regions.

The fellowship program is ICANN’s most direct effort to close that gap.

What the ICANN Fellowship Actually Provides

This isn’t a research grant or a stipend program. The ICANN Fellowship is built around participation — getting people into the room where internet policy gets discussed, and making sure they’re prepared to contribute meaningfully when they get there.

Here’s what selected fellows receive:

• Travel assistance to attend an ICANN Public Meeting in person
• A dedicated mentor assigned from within the ICANN community
• Training across multiple knowledge areas — before, during, and after the meeting
• Access to the ICANN Fellows alumni network — a global community of internet governance practitioners
• Ongoing engagement pathways into ICANN’s policy development processes after the fellowship concludes

The meetings themselves are substantive multi-day events. Fellows attend sessions, participate in working groups, interact with policymakers and technical experts, and engage directly with the community processes that influence global internet governance decisions.

It’s hands-on participation, not observation.

Three Upcoming Meetings — Three Separate Deadlines

This is the section most applicants overlook, and it’s important to understand clearly before you apply.

The ICANN Fellowship runs on a meeting-by-meeting cycle. Each upcoming public meeting has its own application window, its own deadline, and its own eligibility conditions. The three upcoming meetings are:

First-time applicant? Your target should be ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon. The application window is open for just one month—from July 21 to August 21, 2026.

Who Can Apply

The fellowship is open to candidates from all regions and all sectors. ICANN is genuinely international in its reach, and the program actively prioritizes applicants from communities that have historically been underrepresented in internet governance conversations.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be at least 21 years of age
• Have an interest in — or be already engaged in — ICANN’s work in policy building, DNS operations, or internet security and stability
• Complete mandatory ICANN Learn courses before applying
• Have an ICANN Account (required to submit an application)
• Not be currently involved in other ICANN-supported travel programs at the time of selection

For returning applicants:

• Second and third-time fellows must demonstrate active involvement in an ICANN community since their previous fellowship
• Fellows may receive a maximum of three fellowships total
• Policy Forum applications (ICANN89) require prior fellowship completion

Two special recognitions for eligible fellows:

The Tarek Kamel Fellowship Recognition is awarded to returning fellows who have made outstanding contributions to ICANN’s capacity development efforts in their region.

The Paul Muchene Fellow Award recognizes a selected fellow living or working in Africa with a technical background. It honors Paul Muchene, an ICANN staff member and fellowship participant who passed away in August 2022.

What Fellows Are Expected to Do

Receiving the fellowship isn’t passive. ICANN expects fellows to actively engage — before the meeting, during it, and after it concludes.

Specifically, fellows are required to:

• Participate in the fellowship mentoring program
• Complete additional required ICANN Learn courses
• Attend the ICANN Public Meeting and all required fellowship sessions
• Network with program alumni and community members
• Complete a post-meeting survey

Beyond the formal requirements, fellows are strongly encouraged to remain active in ICANN’s policy development processes after their fellowship ends — contributing to working groups, supporting future fellows, and staying engaged with the community they’ve joined.

The expectation is clear: this fellowship is an entry point into long-term participation, not a one-time event.

A Note on Virtual Participation

If an ICANN meeting is held virtually rather than in person, the fellowship program runs virtually as well. ICANN has confirmed that virtual participation incorporates all key elements of the fellowship program — mentoring, training, community interaction, and meeting participation remain intact in a virtual format.

For the three upcoming meetings listed above, in-person participation is currently planned. This may be subject to change — always verify on the official ICANN Fellowship portal before making travel arrangements.

What This Fellowship Is — And What It Isn’t

It’s worth being direct about what the ICANN Fellowship offers and what it doesn’t, because the two are sometimes confused.

This is not a research fellowship, a degree scholarship, or a paid employment program. There is no annual stipend. There is no salary. The financial benefit is travel assistance to attend the meeting — flights, accommodation, and related logistics covered so that cost is not a barrier to participation.

What the fellowship provides instead is access. Access to the global community that governs how the internet works. Access to mentors who have been navigating these processes for years. Access to training that builds real competency in internet policy and governance. And access to an alumni network that stays active long after the meeting ends.

For professionals in technology, law, civil society, academia, and public policy who want a serious entry point into internet governance — that access is genuinely valuable. The ICANN community is small, specialized, and influential. Getting inside it through the fellowship program is considerably more direct than trying to build that network from the outside.

How to Prepare or Apply for the ICANN Fellowship Before July 21

The ICANN88 application window opens in weeks. Here is what to do before then:

1. Create your ICANN Account now. You cannot submit an application without one. Go to the ICANN website and create your account before the window opens — don’t leave this for the last day.

2. Start the mandatory ICANN Learn courses. These are required to complete before you apply. ICANN Learn is free and accessible online. The courses cover the basics of ICANN’s structure, the DNS, and internet governance — completing them also helps you write a stronger application because you’ll understand the work more concretely.

3. Review the Selection Criteria. ICANN publishes its selection criteria publicly. Reading them before you apply tells you exactly what the selection committee is looking for — which is more useful than guessing.

4. Think carefully about your motivation statement. Applications that clearly explain why the applicant wants to engage with ICANN’s work — and what they bring from their region or sector — are stronger than generic statements of interest. Be specific about what you want to contribute, not just what you want to learn.

5. Set a calendar reminder for July 21, 2026 at 23:59 UTC. The window is exactly one month. Applications close August 21, 2026 at 23:59 UTC. Late submissions are not accepted.

Explore more fully funded fellowships, scholarships, and international opportunities at kaistscholarship.com.

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