NextGen@ICANN 2027 in Portugal | Travel Support for Students

NextGen@ICANN

Other opportunity
Portugal
September 23, 2026

NextGen@ICANN 2027 is open for university students who want to learn about Internet Governance and participate in the ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon, Portugal. The current application round is for students living and studying in the European region, and applicants must be 18–30 years old at the time of the meeting.

Selected participants receive support for economy-class airfare, hotel accommodation, and a stipend. The application period for ICANN88 runs from 31 August to 9 October 2026, with the final deadline at 23:59 UTC.

Quick Details

Detail	Information
Program	NextGen@ICANN
Current Round	NextGen@ICANN88
Meeting	ICANN88 Community Forum
Location	Lisbon, Portugal
Meeting Dates	13–18 March 2027
Region	Europe
Eligible Applicants	Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students
Age	18–30 at the time of the meeting
Main Interest	Internet Governance, the future of the Internet, and meeting topics
Airfare	Economy-class airfare support
Accommodation	Hotel support
Stipend	Up to US$500 according to the current FAQ
Visa	Applicant’s responsibility
Application Opens	31 August 2026
Application Deadline	9 October 2026, 23:59 UTC
Selection Announcement	17 December 2026
Application	Online NextGen Applicant Portal

🇩🇪 Germany Student Visa Guide 2027

Complete guide about visa requirements, documents, financial proof, and application steps for international students.

Read Guide →

The meeting date, region, application dates, and selection announcement are listed on the current program page. The FAQ gives the stipend ceiling of US$500.

What Is NextGen@ICANN?

NextGen@ICANN is a youth program for university students interested in the Internet ecosystem, Internet Governance, policy development, and the future of the Internet.

The program gives selected students an opportunity to learn about the technical governance of the Internet, the multistakeholder model, and how they can participate in discussions related to Internet policy and governance.

Participants also receive guidance and mentoring as they become familiar with the wider community.

For the current round, selected participants are expected to attend the ICANN meeting and required activities. They must also be willing to give a 5–10 minute presentation about a relevant project, research work, activity, website, thesis, or similar topic.

Who Can Apply for NextGen@ICANN 2027?

Applicants must meet the main eligibility conditions below:

Be enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student.
Be 18 to 30 years old at the time of the ICANN meeting.
Be living and studying in the region of the relevant meeting.
Have an interest in Internet Governance, the future of the Internet, and topics discussed at ICANN meetings.
Be able to attend the meeting and required events if selected.
Be willing to actively participate in the program.
Be willing to present a relevant project for approximately 5–10 minutes.

The regional requirement is important

ICANN88 is assigned to the European region. The current call specifically seeks university students who are living and studying in Europe.

The program normally follows a regional rotation covering Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. If applications from another region are accepted for a particular meeting, that exception is announced publicly before the application process. No such exception is stated on the current ICANN88 call.

This means applicants should not assume that the opportunity is open to students worldwide simply because the program has an international focus.

Is NextGen@ICANN Open to All Nationalities?

The current ICANN88 call does not provide a simple list of eligible nationalities.

Instead, the key geographic condition is that applicants must be living and studying in the region of the meeting. For ICANN88, that region is Europe.

Therefore, nationality alone should not be used to determine eligibility. Your current place of residence and study must also meet the regional requirement.

What Does NextGen@ICANN 2027 Cover?

Selected participants receive a grant of support that covers:

Economy-class airfare
Hotel accommodation
A stipend

The current FAQ states that the stipend is not more than US$500 and is intended to help with reasonable individual expenses such as meals, transportation to and from the airport, and incidental expenses.

This should not be described as a conventional fully funded scholarship. It is a student participation program with travel and related support.

What Is Not Covered?

Applicants should plan carefully for costs that are not automatically covered.

The current program page states that selected participants must secure their own visas at their own expense. Additional travel-related charges are also the participant’s responsibility.

Travel or health insurance is normally the participant’s responsibility. The FAQ adds an important exception: travel insurance may be reimbursed when it is required for obtaining a visa, provided the participant can show proof of that requirement.

Is IELTS or TOEFL Required?

The current official pages do not state an IELTS or TOEFL requirement for the NextGen@ICANN88 application.

However, applicants should not interpret this as an official statement that English proficiency tests are never required.

The application form itself must be completed in English. Supporting documents may be provided in other languages.

So, for GSH purposes, the accurate wording is:

IELTS/TOEFL requirement: Not specified on the current official application information. The application form must be written in English.

What Documents Are Required?

The official FAQ provides specific information about the application process and supporting material, but it does not present a simple current-cycle checklist saying that every applicant must submit a CV, recommendation letter, transcript, motivation letter, or language certificate.

Therefore, GSH does not list those items as mandatory requirements without official confirmation.

Applicants should complete the actual application form and follow the instructions shown in the Applicant Portal.

The FAQ also explains that supporting material can include items such as attendance records, blog links, and certificates, and these supporting documents may be provided in languages other than English.

Travel documents after selection

Selected participants should be prepared to provide travel documents when required. The official FAQ lists:

A valid passport
Travel documents required by the applicant’s country of origin
A visa if required by the host country
Transit visas if required for the travel route

Travel documents must match the name shown on the valid passport.

These are travel requirements and should not be confused with the documents required to submit the initial application.

How to Apply for NextGen@ICANN 2027

The application is submitted online through the NextGen Applicant Portal.

Step 1: Create or access your account

Applicants need an ICANN Account to access the application.

Step 2: Open the NextGen application

After logging into the account, select the NextGen Application option to enter the Applicant Portal.

Step 3: Complete your applicant profile

Fill in the required information in your applicant profile and save it.

Step 4: Complete the application

Once the profile is complete, the application option becomes available. You can work on the application and save it as a draft before submitting it.

Step 5: Submit the application

After completing the required information, submit the application through the portal. The FAQ says applicants receive a confirmation email after submission.

Important: Do not wait until the final hours. The FAQ states that applications and supporting documentation cannot be submitted after the application round closes.

Apply through the official NextGen@ICANN application page

What Should Applicants Prepare?

Although applicants should follow the actual application form rather than an unofficial checklist, a strong application should clearly explain the applicant’s genuine interest in the Internet ecosystem.

The published selection criteria consider factors such as:

Current work, activities, studies, research, or public discussion related to the Internet ecosystem
How participation could benefit the applicant
How the applicant could contribute to a wider community, such as a university, country, or region
The quality of the applicant’s view on an Internet topic
Interest in joining the wider community
Long-term interest in topics related to the organization’s work
Interest in understanding and engaging with regional activities

Practical advice for applicants

This is GSH advice, not an additional official requirement:

Connect your experience with a clear Internet-related topic.

For example, if your studies or research involve digital policy, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, domain names, Internet access, online governance, technology policy, or another relevant area, explain the connection clearly.

Avoid adding unrelated achievements simply to make the application longer.

What Happens After Applying?

A selection committee reviews eligible applications using the published selection criteria. The committee includes representatives appointed by Supporting Organizations and Advisory Committees.

For the current ICANN88 round, selected participants are scheduled to be announced on 17 December 2026.

The FAQ also explains that successful applicants receive a follow-up email and are expected to accept the invitation within one week. If a selected applicant does not accept, an alternate may be used.

Important Program Requirement After Selection

Selection is not simply about receiving travel support.

Participants are expected to take part in required activities and courses before the meeting. The current call says participants are required to attend courses and presentations beginning six weeks before the Public Meeting and are expected to give a presentation during the meeting.

The FAQ also lists required ICANN Learn courses for selected participants, including Introduction to ICANN, Intro to the NextGen@ICANN Experience, and DNS Fundamentals.

This is important for applicants who may be looking only for travel funding. The program also requires active participation and preparation.

Key Dates for NextGen@ICANN88

Event	Date
Applications open	31 August 2026
Application deadline	9 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC
Selected participants announced	17 December 2026
ICANN88 Community Forum	13–18 March 2027
Location	Lisbon, Portugal

These dates belong specifically to the NextGen@ICANN88 application cycle.

Important Points Before Applying

1. Check the European regional requirement

This is one of the most important eligibility conditions for the current round. You must currently be living and studying in the relevant meeting region.

2. Do not treat it as a traditional scholarship

The program provides travel support, accommodation, and a stipend, but it is designed around participation, learning, mentoring, and engagement with the Internet Governance community.

3. Plan for visa-related costs

The current program page places visa responsibility on participants. Applicants who may need a visa should investigate the process early rather than waiting until selection.

4. Your application must be in English

The online application form must be written in English, even though some supporting documentation can be provided in another language.

5. Be ready to present a project

Selected participants must be willing to give a 5–10 minute presentation connected to their studies, research, activities, or another relevant Internet topic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NextGen@ICANN 2027?

It is a youth program for university students interested in Internet Governance, the Internet ecosystem, and related topics. The current round is connected to the ICANN88 Community Forum in Lisbon, Portugal.

Where will ICANN88 take place?

ICANN88 is scheduled as a Community Forum in Lisbon, Portugal, from 13–18 March 2027.

What is the age limit?

Applicants must be 18–30 years old at the time of the meeting.

Can students from any region apply?

Not for the current ICANN88 round based on the published eligibility information. ICANN88 is assigned to the European region, and the current call seeks students living and studying there.

Does NextGen@ICANN pay for airfare?

Yes. Selected participants receive support covering economy-class airfare.

Does it provide accommodation?

Yes. Hotel accommodation is included in the stated travel support.

How much is the stipend?

The current FAQ states that the stipend is not more than US$500 and is intended for reasonable individual expenses such as meals, airport transportation, and incidentals.