Building on A Decade of Dialogue
The 2026 launch celebrates the Programme’s tenth anniversary and KAICIID’s commitment to moving from convening to delivery
The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID is pleased to announce the selection of 35 new Fellows for its 2026 cohort, bringing together two groups of religious leaders and educators working with youth and young adults, as well as international organisations. They join a global alumni community of more than 550 Fellows working across around 100 countries, applying dialogue to strengthen social cohesion, peacebuilding, and inclusive policy.
The 2026 launch builds on the momentum of the Programme’s tenth anniversary, A Decade of Dialogue, integrated in KAICIID’s wider commitment to moving from convening to delivery, supporting Fellows to translate interreligious and intercultural dialogue into results in their institutions and communities.
Who Are the 2026 Fellows?
Selected through a competitive application process, the 2026 Fellows bring a mix of experience and emerging leadership. With an average age of 36, they include executives and directors, policy and programme leads, professors and researchers, educators and civil society leaders who are already positioned to embed dialogue approaches in decision-making spaces and learning environments.
~30
Countries Represented
6
Global Regions
36
Average Age
20%
Living Abroad
Global Reach and Emerging Leadership
Around one in five Fellows currently lives outside their country of origin, reflecting the Programme’s global reach and the international nature of modern dialogue work. Several countries are debuting in the Programme this year, expanding KAICIID’s geographic footprint.
Regional Representation
This year’s edition represents nearly 30 countries across six regions, with a diverse geographic distribution that reflects the global nature of dialogue challenges and opportunities.
🌏Asia-Pacific
Most represented region, reflecting growing dialogue initiatives across diverse Asian contexts
🌍Arab Region
Second largest representation, bringing crucial Middle Eastern perspectives
🌍Africa
Strong presence from the continent addressing complex intercultural challenges
🌍Europe
Contributing expertise in multicultural policy and integration
🌎Americas
Bringing North and South American dialogue leadership
Diversity Designed for Practice
Religious and cultural diversity is a defining feature of the 2026 year. Fellows represent nine religious identities spanning 24 denominations and movements, creating a rich tapestry of perspectives and practices.
Religious Traditions Represented:
- Baha’i
- Buddhist
- Christian
- Confucian
- Hindu
- Muslim
- Jewish
- Unitarian
- Non-religious
Internal Diversity Within Traditions
Within each tradition, there is significant internal diversity, including a wide range of Christian communions and Muslim Fellows from the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Horn of Africa. This reflects the Programme’s commitment to authentic representation of global religious diversity.
About a quarter of the 2026 Fellows are already active in interreligious organisations or multi-faith initiatives. The Programme prioritises functional pluralism, meaning the ability to work credibly across differences in complex institutional and international environments.
From Cohort to Network
For many Fellows, the most enduring value of the year is what comes after graduation: entry into the KAICIID Fellows Alumni Network. Alumni continue to engage as trainers, facilitators, partners, and convenors of dialogue, often collaborating across countries and disciplines to pilot new initiatives, strengthen policy and practice to scale what works in their respective initiatives.
Dialogue succeeds most sustainably through relationships of trust that endure. While the bonds within each cohort remain central, longer-term impact often grows through connections among Fellows within the same country, region or institutional ecosystem.
Alumni Network Impact:
- Alumni serve as trainers and facilitators in their communities
- Cross-country collaboration on pilot initiatives
- Strengthening policy and practice at scale
- Convening dialogue in diverse institutional settings
- Building sustained relationships of trust across borders
Enhanced Alumni Engagement
Following a recent evaluation and a global alumni survey, KAICIID is tailoring its alumni engagement approach to better respond to the needs of an expanding, multi-generational network. The 2026 Fellows will graduate into this updated vision, building on a decade of learning while strengthening pathways for collaboration and sustained impact.
The Vision: From Convening to Delivery
KAICIID’s commitment extends beyond training to ensuring Fellows can translate interreligious and intercultural dialogue into tangible results in their institutions and communities. The updated approach reflects lessons learned from 550+ alumni working in real-world contexts.
Areas of Impact
Where Fellows Are Making a Difference:
- Social Cohesion: Building bridges across divided communities
- Peacebuilding: Addressing conflict through dialogue and reconciliation
- Inclusive Policy: Embedding dialogue approaches in decision-making spaces
- Education: Training next generation of dialogue leaders
- Youth Engagement: Working with young adults on interfaith initiatives
- International Organizations: Strengthening global dialogue frameworks
The 2026 Fellows join a proven network of dialogue leaders who are transforming how communities, institutions, and nations navigate religious and cultural diversity.
Learn More & Stay Connected
Explore Fellow profiles, follow their initiatives, and join the conversation about building a more inclusive world through dialogue.
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