We are delighted to announce that the Dalai Lama Fellows 2026 application cycle is officially open. From October 1 to November 12, 2025, we invite 15–20 exceptional young changemakers from around the world to join a transformative year-long journey of inner and outer leadership.
For over a decade, Dalai Lama Fellows (DLF) has cultivated a new generation of leaders who blend compassion, mindfulness, and social innovation to foster positive change in their communities. The Fellowship is more than a professional development program — it is a deeply human experience that nurtures self-awareness, connection, and compassionate action.
Each of these milestones marks a critical phase in a Fellow’s journey — from joining a global community of changemakers to developing personal practices and leadership capacities that last a lifetime.
Founded on the principles of compassion, ethical leadership, and interconnectedness, Dalai Lama Fellows is an initiative designed to cultivate leaders who are both mindful and socially conscious.
Our approach is rooted in the Head, Heart, and Hands model — a framework that integrates intellectual understanding, emotional awareness, and practical application. Fellows learn not only what to do as social innovators, but also how to be in alignment with the values of empathy, respect, and wisdom.
Over the course of one year, Fellows engage in:
Upon completion, Fellows become part of the LifeLong Fellows Community — an ever-growing network of alumni who continue to support one another’s personal and professional journeys.
The Dalai Lama Fellows program seeks individuals who are deeply committed to inner transformation and social action. To apply for the 2026 cohort, candidates must meet the following criteria:
The Fellowship welcomes applicants from all countries, faiths, and backgrounds. It is a non-sectarian program that celebrates diversity and encourages participants to draw wisdom from their own cultural and spiritual traditions.
The 2026 Dalai Lama Fellows application consists of five key sections designed to help the selection committee understand your story, values, and aspirations:
Applications must be completed and submitted by November 12, 2025, at 22:00 UTC. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The Dalai Lama Fellows selection process is designed to identify individuals who demonstrate alignment between their personal growth goals and the Fellowship’s mission.
When evaluating candidates, we look for:
Unlike many fellowships that prioritize measurable impact and scale, Dalai Lama Fellows emphasizes transformation — both personal and collective. We believe that genuine social change begins within the individual and expands outward through relationships, communities, and systems.
Fellows work on Compassion-in-Action Projects that address pressing global challenges. These projects often align with the following areas:
Regardless of the field, the unifying thread among all Fellows is a commitment to ethical, compassionate leadership that seeks long-term, sustainable solutions.
To illustrate the diversity and impact of Dalai Lama Fellows’ work, here are a few examples of remarkable initiatives led by past Fellows:
These examples reflect the creativity, compassion, and courage that Dalai Lama Fellows bring to communities across the world.
While Dalai Lama Fellows does not provide direct funding for Fellows’ projects, the program offers rich non-financial support that many participants describe as life-changing.
Fellows receive:
Through these resources, Fellows gain the tools, mindset, and relationships needed to sustain both their personal growth and project impact long after the Fellowship year ends.
The Dalai Lama Fellowship is a serious commitment — one that invites participants to integrate compassion into their daily lives and leadership practices.
Fellows are expected to dedicate:
Participation includes:
Through this rhythm, Fellows experience a holistic journey of inner awareness, meaningful relationships, and real-world leadership application.
The Head, Heart, and Hands framework lies at the core of the DLF curriculum. It integrates three key dimensions of leadership:
Fellows explore self-awareness, emotional resilience, and ethical reflection. They learn to recognize their internal motivations and cultivate clarity in purpose and decision-making.
Fellows deepen empathy and develop the ability to communicate compassionately across differences. They learn to build trust, resolve conflict, and foster inclusive collaboration.
Fellows engage with the larger systems — social, environmental, and cultural — that shape their work. They gain insight into systems thinking and practice sustainable action within interconnected global contexts.
This multidimensional approach ensures that Fellows grow not only as project leaders but as compassionate human beings capable of transforming systems from the inside out.
A highlight of the Fellowship year is the five-day in-person Contemplative Leadership Assembly, held in May 2026 at a location to be announced.
During this immersive gathering, Fellows come together for workshops, mindfulness sessions, storytelling circles, and shared practice. The Assembly offers a unique opportunity to experience presence, community, and renewal in a setting rooted in compassion and wisdom.
Dalai Lama Fellows fully cover all travel, accommodation, and meal costs.
Graduating Fellows automatically join the LifeLong Fellows community — an enduring global network of over a decade’s worth of alumni. This vibrant community continues to collaborate, share opportunities, and support one another long after the formal fellowship concludes.
Members have gone on to become social entrepreneurs, educators, policymakers, and innovators working in over 50 countries worldwide. The LifeLong network serves as a source of ongoing learning, solidarity, and inspiration.
Applications for the 2026 Dalai Lama Fellowship are open from October 1 to November 12, 2025.
Interested applicants can access the official application portal via the Dalai Lama Fellows website. We encourage you to begin early to allow time for reflection, video preparation, and gathering recommendation letters.
✅ Completed application form
✅ Short essay responses
✅ 2–3 minute personal video introduction
✅ Resume or CV
✅ One letter of recommendation
All materials must be submitted by November 12, 2025, at 22:00 UTC.
To help applicants better understand the Fellowship experience and application process, Dalai Lama Fellows will host live Q&A sessions via video conference:
Each session will provide an overview of the program and an opportunity to ask questions directly to the DLF team.
Participants can register through the official website to receive a unique session link.
For questions not covered in the FAQ, applicants are encouraged to contact the DLF team at dalailamafellows@virginia.edu.
To learn more about our past Fellows, current team, and global impact, explore:
You can also follow Dalai Lama Fellows on social media to stay updated on upcoming events, insights, and stories from our global community.
The challenges of the 21st century — from climate change and inequality to polarization and violence — demand more than technical solutions. They require leaders who lead from the heart, grounded in wisdom, humility, and interconnectedness.
The Dalai Lama Fellows program stands as a global platform for such leaders. Through personal transformation, compassionate action, and deep community engagement, Fellows not only create change — they embody it.
If you are ready to lead with compassion, courage, and clarity of purpose, we invite you to apply for the 2026 Dalai Lama Fellowship and join a community that is redefining what leadership can mean in our world.
Learn More: www.dalailamafellows.org
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