ICANN88 Fellowship Program 2027 in Portugal (Fully Funded)

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program offers an opportunity for people from different regions and sectors to participate in the ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon, Portugal.

ICANN88 is scheduled to take place from March 13 to 18, 2027, at the Lisbon Congress Center. The meeting will be held both in person and virtually, subject to the meeting arrangements announced by ICANN. The Fellowship Program is designed to help people from underserved and underrepresented communities become more active in the global Internet governance community.

For selected fellows attending in person, ICANN provides substantial travel support. Under its published Fellowship terms, ICANN books and pays for the lowest available economy airfare, provides a standard hotel room, and provides a stipend of up to US$500 for reasonable individual meeting expenses such as meals and transportation. Eligible visa costs can also be reimbursed up to US$200.

However, this opportunity should not be confused with a university scholarship. The ICANN88 Fellowship Program is a professional and Internet-governance fellowship rather than funding for a degree programme.

The application period for ICANN88 opened on July 21, 2026 and closed on August 21, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. ICANN states that selected fellows are scheduled to be announced on November 10, 2026.

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ICANN88 Fellowship Program 2027 Overview

Detail	Information
Fellowship	ICANN88 Fellowship Program
Meeting	ICANN88 Community Forum
Host city	Lisbon
Country	Portugal
Meeting dates	March 13–18, 2027
Venue	Lisbon Congress Center
Fellowship type	Travel-supported professional fellowship
Airfare	Economy airfare covered by ICANN
Accommodation	Standard single-occupancy hotel room
Stipend	Up to US$500
Visa support	Eligible visa costs up to US$200
Age requirement	At least 21 years
Application opening	July 21, 2026
Application deadline	August 21, 2026 at 23:59 UTC
Selected fellows announced	November 10, 2026
Application method	Online
ICANN Account	Required
Application status	Closed for ICANN88

The official ICANN Fellowship page confirms the ICANN88 meeting dates, application dates, selection announcement date and current programme status.

What Is the ICANN88 Fellowship Program?

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program is part of ICANN’s broader Fellowship Program, which aims to increase participation in the organization’s multistakeholder community.

ICANN deals with issues connected to the global Internet’s unique identifiers, including the Domain Name System, Internet policy development, and the security and stability of the Internet.

The fellowship gives selected participants the opportunity to learn about ICANN’s work, meet community members, receive mentoring and participate in activities connected with an ICANN Public Meeting.

ICANN says fellows receive training before, during and after the meeting and are assigned mentors. Participants are also expected to engage with the ICANN community and contribute to Internet policy discussions where appropriate.

The programme is therefore more than a funded trip to Portugal. Applicants should have a genuine interest in Internet governance, DNS operations, Internet policy or related areas.

What Does the ICANN88 Fellowship Cover?

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program provides travel-related support rather than university tuition funding.

For selected fellows, ICANN’s published terms provide:

• Economy-class airfare booked by ICANN
• A standard hotel room with single occupancy
• Up to US$500 for reasonable individual expenses
• Eligible visa costs up to US$200
• Fellowship mentoring and training
• Participation in ICANN meeting and fellowship activities

ICANN states that travel is arranged through its designated travel management company. Fellows should not independently book their own hotel or travel itinerary unless instructed under the programme’s travel arrangements.

The US$500 stipend is intended to offset reasonable individual expenses such as meals, airport transportation and incidentals.

Health or travel insurance is not provided by ICANN, and fellows remain responsible for their own insurance. Personal hotel extras and other incidental charges are also the responsibility of the fellow.

Is the ICANN88 Fellowship Fully Funded?

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program is often described online as a fully funded fellowship because ICANN provides major travel and participation support.

However, it is more accurate to describe it as a travel-supported fellowship.

ICANN covers the lowest available economy airfare, standard hotel accommodation and provides a stipend for reasonable individual meeting expenses. Eligible visa costs can also be reimbursed up to the stated limit.

It does not provide university tuition or a monthly scholarship for academic study.

Applicants should also remember that health insurance, certain personal expenses, hotel extras and costs arising from visa or travel problems may remain their responsibility.

Who Can Apply for the ICANN88 Fellowship Program?

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program welcomes applicants from different regions and sectors.

According to ICANN, participants must:

• Be at least 21 years old by the time of application.
• Be interested in or already engaged in ICANN-related work.
• Have an interest in Internet policy, the Domain Name System, or Internet security and stability.
• Complete mandatory ICANN Learn courses.
• Not be involved in another ICANN-supported travel programme at the time of selection.
• Meet the programme’s requirements for previous fellowship participation.

ICANN also states that returning fellows can apply again, but a person can receive the fellowship no more than three times. Applicants returning for a second or third fellowship must demonstrate involvement and engagement in an ICANN community.

ICANN88 Fellowship Eligibility for New Applicants

New applicants do not need to have previously participated in an ICANN Fellowship.

However, they should be able to explain why participating in ICANN88 would be useful and what they hope to learn from the experience.

ICANN’s selection information has historically considered applicants’ Internet governance awareness, relevant Internet-related activities, sector or community background, and the potential for future engagement.

Applicants from civil society, academia, government, business, technical communities and end-user groups can be relevant to the programme.

The important point is to demonstrate a genuine connection to Internet governance or an area related to ICANN’s work.

Eligibility for Returning Fellows

People who have previously received an ICANN Fellowship can apply again, subject to the programme’s participation limits.

ICANN currently states that a successful candidate can receive a fellowship up to three times.

For second- and third-time fellows, the programme expects evidence of continued engagement in one of the ICANN communities.

This means previous participation alone does not guarantee another fellowship. Returning applicants should explain what they achieved through previous participation and how they intend to contribute further.

What Does ICANN Look for in Applicants?

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program is selected through a competitive assessment process.

The current ICANN Fellowship Selection Committee page identifies four broad assessment areas:

• Diversity
• Experience
• ICANN knowledge and engagement
• Potential for future engagement

ICANN also considers regional and sector diversity when filling fellowship places, including representation from underserved and underrepresented communities.

Applicants should therefore avoid treating the application as a simple travel scholarship form.

A strong application should clearly explain the applicant’s background, current Internet-related interests, reason for attending ICANN88 and plans for remaining engaged after the meeting.

What Is the ICANN88 Community Forum?

ICANN88 is the Community Forum taking place in Lisbon, Portugal.

The official meeting is scheduled for March 13–18, 2027, at the Lisbon Congress Center. ICANN lists the event as both in-person and virtual.

The Community Forum brings together participants from different parts of the Internet ecosystem to discuss policy, technical, operational and community issues related to ICANN’s mission.

For fellows, the meeting provides an opportunity to observe and participate in this multistakeholder environment.

ICANN88 Fellowship Program Deadline

The application deadline for the ICANN88 Fellowship Program was August 21, 2026, at 23:59 UTC.

The application opened on July 21, 2026, and ICANN announced that selected fellows are scheduled to be announced on November 10, 2026.

As of September 2026, the ICANN88 application round is closed.

This is important for anyone publishing or reading a scholarship article now. A post should not suggest that applicants can still submit an ICANN88 application after the official closing date.

ICANN’s current Fellowship page says the next application round is for ICANN89 Policy Forum, opening on November 5, 2026, with a December 5, 2026 closing date. ICANN89 is scheduled for June 14–17, 2027, in Vancouver, Canada.

How to Apply for the ICANN88 Fellowship Program

The ICANN88 application period has already closed, but the application process is useful for future applicants preparing for another ICANN Fellowship round.

Step 1: Create an ICANN Account

Applicants need an ICANN Account to apply for the Fellowship Program.

The application is completed through ICANN’s online application system.

Step 2: Check the Eligibility Requirements

Review the age requirement, ICANN interest, previous fellowship participation and other programme conditions.

Make sure you are not participating in another ICANN-supported travel programme at the time of selection.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

The Fellowship application is completed in English.

Applicants should be prepared to explain their experience, Internet-related interests, reason for attending the specific ICANN meeting and how they expect to remain engaged after the programme.

ICANN’s published selection criteria place importance on knowledge, experience, engagement and future potential.

Step 4: Complete Required ICANN Learn Courses

Selected fellows are required to complete mandatory ICANN Learn courses.

Applicants should familiarize themselves with the learning requirements before participating in the programme.

Step 5: Submit the Online Application

Applications must be submitted through the official online system before the stated closing time.

ICANN states that incomplete applications are not considered after the application window closes.

Step 6: Wait for the Selection Announcement

For ICANN88, the official selection announcement date is November 10, 2026.

Successful candidates are announced through the ICANN website and receive further instructions about accepting the fellowship and arranging travel.

What Happens After Selection?

Selected fellows are expected to participate actively in the programme.

The requirements include:

• Participating in fellowship mentoring
• Completing required ICANN Learn courses
• Attending the ICANN Public Meeting
• Participating in required Fellowship sessions
• Networking with ICANN community members and alumni
• Completing the post-meeting survey

ICANN also encourages fellows to remain involved with ICANN policy development processes and the Fellowship alumni network after the meeting.

Travel Support and Visa Requirements

Travel support is an important part of the ICANN88 Fellowship Program.

ICANN books the fellow’s approved economy airfare through its designated travel management company. It also arranges and pays for a standard hotel room based on single occupancy.

However, ICANN requires fellows to have the necessary travel documents before travel is booked. This includes a valid passport and any required destination or transit visas.

ICANN may reimburse eligible visa costs up to US$200 under its travel-support rules.

Applicants should begin checking visa requirements early because ICANN does not guarantee visa approval.

Important Points Before Applying

Before applying for an ICANN Fellowship Program, remember:

1. The ICANN88 application round is already closed.
2. ICANN88 will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from March 13–18, 2027.
3. Applicants must be at least 21 years old.
4. The programme is related to Internet governance and ICANN’s work.
5. An ICANN Account is required.
6. The application is submitted online.
7. ICANN provides economy airfare for selected fellows.
8. A standard hotel room is provided.
9. The meeting stipend is up to US$500.
10. Eligible visa costs can be reimbursed up to US$200.
11. Health insurance is not provided by ICANN.
12. Returning fellows can receive the fellowship no more than three times.
13. Returning applicants need to demonstrate continued engagement where required.
14. Applicants should be prepared to participate actively before, during and after the meeting.
15. Future applicants should always check the latest official ICANN Fellowship page for the next application round.

Official Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ICANN88 Fellowship Program 2027?

It is a professional fellowship connected with the ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon, Portugal. It provides selected participants with mentoring, training and substantial travel support.

2. When will ICANN88 take place?

ICANN88 is scheduled for March 13–18, 2027, in Lisbon, Portugal.

3. Is the ICANN88 Fellowship fully funded?

It provides major travel support, including economy airfare and hotel accommodation, plus a stipend and eligible visa-cost support. It is not a university tuition scholarship.

4. How much stipend does the ICANN Fellowship provide?

The published Fellowship terms state that a stipend of up to US$500 is provided for reasonable individual expenses such as meals, airport transportation and incidentals.

5. Who can apply for the ICANN Fellowship?

Candidates from different regions and sectors can apply if they are at least 21 and have an interest in or engagement with ICANN-related work, subject to the programme’s other requirements.

6. Can Pakistani students apply for the ICANN88 Fellowship Program?

The programme is open to candidates from all regions and sectors. Pakistani applicants can therefore apply when an application round is open if they meet the applicable requirements.

7. What was the deadline for ICANN88 Fellowship 2027?

The deadline was August 21, 2026, at 23:59 UTC. The ICANN88 application round is now closed.

8. When will ICANN88 Fellowship selected candidates be announced?

ICANN lists November 10, 2026, as the announcement date for selected ICANN88 fellows.

Final Thoughts

The ICANN88 Fellowship Program 2027 provides an opportunity for eligible participants to join the ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon and gain direct exposure to the global Internet governance community.

The fellowship is especially relevant to people interested in Internet policy, the Domain Name System, Internet security and stability, and related areas of the Internet ecosystem.

For selected fellows, ICANN provides significant travel support, including economy airfare, hotel accommodation, a stipend of up to US$500 and eligible visa-cost support. However, health insurance and some personal expenses remain the fellow’s responsibility.

For ICANN88 specifically, the application deadline was August 21, 2026, so the application round is currently closed. ICANN has scheduled the next fellowship application round for ICANN89, opening November 5, 2026.

Anyone planning to apply for a future ICANN Fellowship should start by understanding ICANN’s work, building relevant experience, and preparing a clear explanation of how participation would contribute to their professional, regional or community engagement.

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