A Travel & Residency Opportunity in Germany with Humboldt Residency Programme 2026 | Fully Funded

Opportunities

The Humboldt Residency Programme 2026 is an international, interdisciplinary initiative that brings together distinguished researchers, academics, and creative professionals from diverse fields to collaborate on the annual theme: “Democracy 2.26: Designing Political Participation.”
The programme aims to generate applicable new ideas and engage a broad audience beyond the academic sphere.

About the Programme

The programme selects twelve participants from varied academic, creative, and professional backgrounds, including:

Former Humboldt Fellows
Early-career researchers
Writers
Artists
Journalists
Civil society actors
Social entrepreneurs

Participants are offered a six-week residency in the Brandenburg and Berlin region, where they work daily in shared collaborative spaces. This setup allows them to build cross-disciplinary bridges, gain deep insights into each other's work, and explore new pathways for thinking and cooperation.

The programme is not limited to research; participants are also required to design and implement innovative formats for public engagement, such as:

Debates and public dialogues
Media appearances
Interactive workshops
Blogs
Social media posts
Written publications

2026 Theme: Democracy 2.26 — Designing Political Participation

The programme focuses on the challenges facing democratic systems worldwide, including:

The rise of populist movements
Erosion of trust in democratic institutions
Decline in the feeling of representation
The impact of digitalization on political discourse
Spread of misinformation
Influence of economic interests on democratic systems

The programme is grounded in the belief that healthy democracy requires ongoing civic engagement beyond periodic elections, and that strengthening both formal and informal political participation is essential to protecting democratic values.

Suggested Sub-Themes

Political legitimacy: Can participation strengthen trust in institutions?
Models of participatory democracy: such as citizens’ assemblies and participatory budgeting
Representation of marginalized groups: mechanisms to ensure minority voices in decision-making
Political participation in the digital age: balancing risks and opportunities in the digital sphere

Programme Timeline

The programme runs from June to October 2026, and includes:

23 June: Virtual opening meeting
3–14 August: Two-week residency at Schloss Wiepersdorf
14 August – 11 September: Four-week residency in Berlin
September – October: Remote work to finalize outputs
27 October: Virtual closing event

Physical presence is mandatory from 3 August to 11 September 2026.

Funding & Support

Funding provided by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation includes:

A monthly allowance for the entire six-week residency
Travel allowance to and from Germany
Two-week accommodation at Schloss Wiepersdorf
Four-week accommodation in a serviced apartment hotel in Berlin
A budget to organize public events or produce final outputs

The foundation also provides family-friendly housing for participants traveling with dependents, as well as assistance in arranging childcare.

Participant Categories

The programme accepts applicants from the following categories:

1. Creative Leader

2. Three Humboldt Alumni

Previous recipients of a Humboldt scholarship or award
Hold an academic position
Not residing in Germany at the start of the residency

3. Three Early-Career Researchers

In the final stage of their PhD or holding a PhD awarded less than four years ago
Hold an academic position
Not residing in Germany

4. Five Participants from Civil Society, Arts, Journalism, or Social Entrepreneurship

Do not hold an academic position

The programme is open to all disciplines, provided the applicant’s work has a clear connection to the annual theme.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only to the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Required Documents Before Applying

CV (maximum 3 pages, PDF format)
Introductory video (maximum 60 seconds) meeting the following criteria:
- Well-lit and noise-free
- Horizontal format (16:9)
- Allowed file types: mp4, mov, avi, mpeg
- Upload the video via Smash and include the link in the application

About the Introductory Video

The video should introduce the applicant personally and explain why they wish to join the programme.
It must not exceed 60 seconds.
Production quality does not affect evaluation, but the video must have clear lighting and sound.

Deadline

Application deadline: 15 December 2025.

Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis.
The selection committee meets in early February 2026, and results are announced in mid-February 2026.