Leading Scholarship 2026 – Apply to Attend One Young World Summit in Cape Town
One Young World’s flagship scholarship ensures remarkable young leaders from every country in the world can attend the annual Summit.
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Opening date: 11 June 2026
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Application deadline: 31 October 2026
About the Leading Scholarship 2026
If you are a young leader devising meaningful strategies to build a more sustainable world, One Young World is looking to bring you to the next annual Summit.
Apply to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa from 3–6 November via the flagship Leading Scholarship.
Ensuring the Summit is accessible to remarkable young leaders from almost every country in the world is pivotal to One Young World’s mission.
Scholarships provide the opportunity for exceptional young people to attend based on their proven leadership and ability to create change in their home country.
The Leading Scholarship is designed specifically to identify and support outstanding young leaders from countries that are often underrepresented at global forums and decision-making spaces.
What Does the Leading Scholarship Include?
Each scholar will receive:
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Full delegate access to the One Young World Summit in Cape Town
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Hotel accommodation between 2–6 November 2026
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Catering including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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The cost of travel to and from Cape Town (your flight to and from Munich must depart from and return to the same international airport)
What Could the Leading Scholarship Mean for You?
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Tap into a global network of over 20,000 potential collaborators from 196 countries
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Gain access to exclusive Ambassador opportunities, such as speaking events, regional networking, and mentoring sessions
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The chance to wave your country’s flag at the Opening Ceremony
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Gain greater visibility for your work and be heard by world‑renowned experts and leaders
Am I Eligible?
You are eligible for the Leading Scholarship if you:
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Are between the ages of 18–35
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Have an evidenced commitment to delivering positive change
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Are addressing key local and/or global issues in your work
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Have a track record of generating impactful and innovative ideas
Note: We are not able to accept applications from those who will be aged under 18 at the time of the Summit.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
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Scholars will be selected on a rolling basis. Selected candidates will be notified of their selection via email between June and October 2026.
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Priority will be given to applicants from countries that have been less represented at previous One Young World Summits.
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Priority will be given to first‑time Summit attendees (not One Young World Ambassadors).
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Due to the overwhelming number of applications, One Young World is unable to respond to individual emails enquiring about the outcome of the Leading Scholarship selection process.
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We do not provide feedback as to why candidates are not selected.
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Visa requirement: If you are selected for a Scholarship and require a visa to enter South Africa for the One Young World Summit 2026, you must pay the visa fee yourself. The costs of the visa and any further costs associated with the visa application (including travel to/from the visa application centre) fall on you as the participant.
Application Deadline: Rolling
