AK Travels Limited

Summary

• Official programme: NextGen@ICANN Program
• Meeting: ICANN88 Community Forum
• Host organisation: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Meeting dates: 13–18 March 2027
• Programme region: Europe
• Eligible applicants: University students living and studying in the European region
• Age: 18–30 at the time of the meeting
• Study level: Undergraduate, graduate or doctoral
• Travel support: Economy-class airfare and hotel
• Stipend: Up to US$500
• Visa: Applicant’s responsibility and expense
• Application deadline: 9 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC
• Selected participants announced: 17 December 2026

About the Programme

The NextGen@ICANN Program is an ICANN initiative designed to introduce university students to the organisation’s work and the broader Internet governance ecosystem.

Through the programme, selected students learn about ICANN’s mission, Internet governance, the Internet ecosystem and the bottom-up multistakeholder model that guides ICANN’s work. Participants also receive coaching and guidance intended to help them understand how they can contribute to discussions and decision-making affecting the Internet at regional and global levels.

The 2027 opportunity is connected to the ICANN88 Community Forum, scheduled to take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 13 to 18 March 2027. ICANN has stated that if the meeting is held virtually, the NextGen@ICANN programme will also be held virtually.

An important eligibility point for applicants outside Europe is that ICANN88 is a Europe-region meeting and the current call is specifically seeking students who live and study in the European region. Therefore, being interested in Internet governance alone does not make an applicant from another ICANN region eligible for this particular round.

Programme Benefits

Selected NextGen@ICANN participants receive a grant of support that covers:

• Economy-class airfare for the ICANN meeting.
• Hotel accommodation.
• A stipend to offset reasonable individual expenses.
• Coaching and guidance through the NextGen@ICANN experience.
• Exposure to ICANN’s Internet governance ecosystem.
• Opportunities to participate actively in the ICANN Public Meeting.
• The opportunity to present a 5–10 minute project during the meeting.
• Access to an international community of students and ICANN participants.

According to ICANN’s official FAQ, the stipend is not more than US$500 and is intended to help with reasonable individual expenses such as meals, airport transportation and incidentals. ICANN pays for airfare and accommodation directly.

The programme does not cover visa expenses. Participants are responsible for obtaining and paying for their own visas. Travel or health insurance is also normally the participant’s responsibility.

Who Can Apply?

For the current NextGen@ICANN88 programme, applicants must:

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate or doctoral student.
• Be 18–30 years old at the time of the ICANN meeting.
• Currently live and study in the European region.
• Have an interest in Internet governance, the future of the Internet and topics covered at ICANN meetings.
• Be able to attend ICANN88 and the required NextGen events if selected.
• Be prepared to actively participate in the meeting.
• Be willing to deliver a 5–10 minute presentation on a relevant project, research, thesis, activity or related work.

ICANN evaluates applications based on demonstrated interest in ICANN and the Internet ecosystem, the applicant’s views on an Internet-related topic, the value of participation to the applicant and their wider community, and their desire to become involved in the ICANN community.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Before applying, confirm that you are a university student aged 18–30 and that you currently live and study in the European region.

Step 2: Create an ICANN Account

An ICANN Account is required to access the NextGen application system.

Step 3: Enter the NextGen Applicant Portal

After signing into your ICANN Account, access the NextGen Application tile and enter the applicant portal.

Step 4: Complete your Applicant Profile

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

Step 5: Complete the application

Start the application, provide the requested information and responses, and save your application. ICANN allows applicants to save a draft and return later.

Step 6: Submit before the deadline

After completing the application, select Submit. ICANN sends a confirmation email after successful submission. The official application portal is the only method available for submitting a NextGen application.

Important Deadline

Application deadline: 9 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC.

For ICANN88:

• Meeting: ICANN88 Community Forum
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Meeting dates: 13–18 March 2027
• Applications open: 31 August 2026
• Applications close: 9 October 2026 at 23:59 UTC
• Selected NextGen participants announced: 17 December 2026.

Related Opportunities

• UNIDIR Graduate Professional Programme – Graduate-level opportunity in international peace, security and disarmament.
• USTC Research Internship Program – International research opportunity for eligible undergraduate and graduate students in China.
• Google Cloud AI Builder Cup 2026 – AI innovation and technology opportunity for eligible builders in the JAPAC region.

Official Application Link

The official page provides access to the NextGen application portal, eligibility information, FAQs, deadlines and selection criteria.

Final Note from AK Travels LTD

The NextGen@ICANN88 Program offers university students a valuable opportunity to gain direct exposure to Internet governance and ICANN’s global multistakeholder community.

However, applicants should pay close attention to the regional eligibility requirement. For ICANN88, the programme is seeking students who live and study in Europe. Therefore, students currently living and studying in countries such as Nigeria are not eligible for this particular ICANN88 NextGen round unless ICANN subsequently announces an expansion to other regions.

Eligible European students should also remember that although ICANN provides airfare, accommodation and a stipend, visa costs are not covered by the programme.

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