NextGen@ICANN Program

Eligibility | Apply | FAQs | Dates & Deadlines | Selection Criteria | Selection Committee | NextGen Presentations | Important Links

About

At ICANN, we recognize the importance of expanding accessibility to both ICANN and the broader Internet governance ecosystem. A key part of this commitment is raising awareness and encouraging participation among young people who are not yet engaged. The NextGen@ICANN youth program plays a vital role in identifying and supporting potential future community members, with the aim of fostering long-term involvement once participants have completed their studies. 

NextGen@ICANN invites you to explore key areas that will help you better understand ICANN’s mission and the bottom-up, multistakeholder model that guides its work. You will also learn how to begin contributing to discussions and decisions that shape the Internet at the regional and global levels. 

The ICANN organization is looking for the next generation of individuals who are interested in engaging with their regional communities and helping shape the future of the global Internet. Important work takes place every day across the ICANN community, and new perspectives are essential to its continued success.

If you are ready to begin your journey, attending an ICANN Meeting as a NextGen@ICANN participant is an ideal first step! 
Through the NextGen@ICANN Program, we will provide selected students from the ICANN meeting region with coaching, guidance, and travel support, enabling them to meaningfully engage and begin a structured, step-by-step pathway into the ICANN ecosystem.

Eligibility

Participants in the NextGen@ICANN program must be:

• Enrolled as an undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral student.
• Between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of the ICANN meeting. If you do not meet the NextGen eligibility criteria, please explore the ICANN Fellowship program.

• Currently living and studying in the region of the respective ICANN meeting. ICANN's meetings rotate through five geographic regions: Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. Find out your ICANN region here. See the calendar and regional rotation for future meetings.

  In the event that applications are being accepted from regions other than the one in which the ICANN meeting is taking place, ICANN will make this information publicly available online in advance of the application process for that specific meeting.

• Interested in Internet Governance, the future of the Internet, and other topics covered at ICANN meetings.
• If selected, participant must be able to attend the ICANN meeting and required events. NextGen participants are expected to actively participate at the meeting.
• If selected, participant must be willing to present a 5 - 10 minute project at the meeting. The presentation can cover topics including: research you are working on or completed, an activity related to ICANN's work, an ICANN related website you are affiliated with, a thesis project, etc.

NextGen participants come from a variety of backgrounds. Check out previous participants and program statistics for more information.

Apply

NextGen@ICANN88 applications are open from 31 August 2026 – 9 October 2026. 
Click here to apply. 

Please note that you need an ICANN Account in order to apply for the NextGen@ICANN Program.

By applying, applicants are agreeing to attend the ICANN meeting with the NextGen@ICANN group as well as all required events. Each individual is provided a grant of support that covers the cost of economy class airfare, hotel and a stipend. NextGen participants are required to secure their own visas for travel at their own expense. If an applicant wants to obtain travel or health insurance this will be at their own expense. NextGen applicants must provide personal information; however, it is voluntary to apply. For more information, see Program Terms and Conditions.

For more information, please see the program's Frequently Asked Questions.
 

Application Dates & Deadlines

NextGen@ICANN Selection Criteria

Applicants are evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Applicant exhibits interest in ICANN and the Internet ecosystem through examples of current work, activities, public dialogue through their studies, and/or research on the web.
• Applicant expresses how participation in the NextGen@ICANN program would be valuable to them as an individual, and as part of a greater community (e.g., university, country, region).
• Applicant's quality in expressing their view on an Internet topic within their application.
• Applicant demonstrates a desire to become a part of the ICANN community.
• Applicant demonstrates long-standing interest in topics related to ICANN's work.
• Applicant expresses a desire to engage and improve their understanding of ICANN's work in their region.

Important Links

For more information, please contact [email protected]