Millennium Leadership Program – Millennium Fellowship 2026–2027 A Nine-Month Global Leadership Accelerator for Emerging Change-Makers

Entering its twelfth year, the Millennium Fellowship—the flagship initiative of the Atlantic Council’s Millennium Leadership Program—continues to shape the next generation of international leaders. This prestigious program brings together a highly selective cohort of 36 mid-career professionals from around the world, representing the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Designed for rising leaders committed to global impact, the Fellowship offers unparalleled exposure to world affairs, leadership development, and high-level dialogue.

About the Millennium Fellowship

The Millennium Fellowship is a nine-month hybrid leadership accelerator designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of emerging global professionals. Participants gain:

• Access to world leaders and foreign policy experts
• Immersive learning on today’s most pressing geopolitical challenges
• Hands-on leadership training from Spencer Stuart, a top executive search and leadership advisory firm
• A lifelong network of global peers and Atlantic Council alumni

Each class of Fellows becomes part of an international community that continues collaborating long after the program ends.

Program Structure

The Fellowship includes a blend of virtual sessions and in-person experiences:

Virtual Components

• Leadership development workshops
• Foreign policy masterclasses led by senior global leaders
• Peer-to-peer learning sessions
• Tailored leadership diagnostics and training from Spencer Stuart

In-Person Global Study Tour

Fellows participate in a 10-day study tour in a region experiencing geopolitical transformation. Previous tours have included:

• Post-conflict South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia)
• Regional dynamics across Israel and the Palestinian territories
• Geopolitics in Taiwan ahead of a presidential election

During the study tour, Fellows engage in:

• Closed-door meetings with government officials
• Exchanges with civil society and local experts
• On-the-ground learning about local and regional challenges

These experiences foster deep cross-border relationships and long-term collaboration.

Atlantic Council Engagement

Fellows receive exclusive invitations to Atlantic Council conferences, private events, and thought-leadership opportunities throughout the year.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be impact-driven professionals between ages 25–40
• Work in the public, private, or nonprofit sector
• Demonstrate strong leadership potential and a record of professional achievement
• Be fluent or highly proficient in English
• Be able to participate in all virtual and in-person components
• Come from any country worldwide

Fellowship Fees

The Millennium Fellowship operates on a sector-based fee structure:

• $3,000 — nonprofit & public sector participants
• $15,000 — private sector participants

These fees cover all virtual programming and on-the-ground costs during the study tour.
Participants are responsible for:

• International airfare
• Visa expenses
• Travel incidentals

Financial assistance may be available case-by-case based on need.

Application Timeline

Application Requirements

Applicants will need to submit:

• Resume
• Employment details
• Short essay responses
• Personal biography
• Demographic information (optional)
• Current headshot

All materials must be submitted in English.

How to Apply

Applications for the 2026–27 Millennium Fellowship are open until:

Deadline: January 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET

Apply online via the official application page.