Application Deadline: November 12, 2025.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Dalai Lama Fellowship. Dalai Lama Fellows (DLF) offers a one-year fellowship program for emerging changemakers aiming to cultivate leadership practices rooted in awareness, compassion, and integrity. The interdisciplinary and deeply contemplative program provides a curriculum, coaching, group learning, and additional forms of support to help Fellows apply what they are learning in the fellowship to their important work in the world.
During the fellowship year, each Fellow implements an original field project addressing a local challenge. With the program’s support, Fellows cultivate capacities of self-awareness, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, listening and communication, systems-thinking, and much more to help their work make a genuinely positive impact on the communities they serve. Fellows’ learning is also supported by instruction in a range of contemplative practices that foster a deeper connection to self, others, and ecosystems.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to fulfill the minimum requirements, through the application a candidate must demonstrate:
- Age requirements: 20-36 years old as of April 1, 2026
- Fluency in written and spoken English
- Current engagement with or well-articulated plans for a social change project and sustained engagement with the project throughout the fellowship year (NOTE: due to the difficulty of launching a social innovation project from scratch, we give preference to applicants who have ongoing projects, but each year we have selected Fellows who have a concrete vision for a project and plans to launch during the fellowship year, given they have the adequate expertise, resources, and community connections at the time of applying)
- In-depth knowledge of the community and the issue that the project is seeking to address, preferably with at least one year of previous experience working with the community
- Interest in learning and engaging in contemplative practices throughout the year
- Commitment to participating in all dimensions of the program, including online learning platform, 1-on-1 coaching calls, group learning calls, etc. (We estimate full participation in the fellowship requires about 12 hours per month, not including Fellows’ work on their projects)
- Attendance at the Contemplative Leadership Assembly in May 2026 (DLF will cover all costs for travel, lodging, and meals for the Assembly)
Benefits
- Immersion in the distinctive yearlong Head, Heart, Hands online leadership curriculum
- One-on-one and small-group coaching to support their personal development and leadership in social innovation work
- Participation in the Contemplative Leadership Assembly with Fellows from around the world and dynamic faculty – May 2026 (DLF will cover all costs for travel, lodging, and meals for the Assembly)
- Lifelong affiliation in our global learning community and support system
Application Summary
The application for Dalai Lama Fellows consists of five main parts:
- Applicant background and overview
- Short essay questions
- Video submission
- Resume/CV
- Letter of recommendation
Application Timeline:
- October 1, 2025: Application opens
- November 12, 2025: Application deadline (applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted by 22:00 Coordinated Universal Time)
- February 2026: Fellows are selected and notified
- March 2026: Virtual onboarding of new Fellows
- April 2026: Formal fellowship year begins
- May 2026: 5-day Contemplative Leadership Assembly in TBD Location
- March 2027: Formal fellowship year concludes, Fellows enter LifeLong Fellows global leadership and learning community
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Dalai Lama Fellowship
