One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 — Fully Funded Trip to Attend the Global Summit in Cape Town, South Africa

 

If you're a young leader aged 18 to 35 driving positive change in your community, the One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded opportunity worth considering — no tuition fees, no cash prize, but a fully paid trip to one of the world's biggest gatherings of young changemakers.

One Young World is an international organization that identifies, connects, and promotes young leaders working to create positive social, environmental, and economic change, and it brings emerging leaders together with influential global figures each year through its annual summit [Haven Foundation](https://hafug.org/one-young-world-leading-scholarship-2026-fully-funded/) . The Leading Scholarship is the organization's flagship scholarship, created to remove financial barriers so that talented young leaders from any country can attend.

Applications opened on 11 June 2026 and remain open until 31 October 2026 [Global South Opportunities](https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2026/06/13/young-22/) , giving prospective applicants a fairly wide window to prepare and apply.

What Is the One Young World Leading Scholarship?

The Leading Scholarship identifies and supports young changemakers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and commitment to creating sustainable impact in their communities. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

It's designed specifically to identify and support outstanding young leaders from countries that are often under-represented at global forums and decision-making spaces [Opportunity Desk](https://opportunitydesk.org/2026/06/12/leading-scholarship-to-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-2026/) , making the Summit accessible on merit rather than financial capacity.

The 2026 Summit returns to Africa, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, with delegates aged 18–35 convening to advance solutions across business, civil society, government, health, education, technology, and human rights. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/03/18/how-to-attend-one-young-world-summit-2026-scholarships-lead2030-challenges-and-fully-funded-opportunities/)

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

This is not a cash grant — it's a fully funded travel and participation package. Coverage includes:

- Full delegate access to the One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Hotel accommodation between roughly 2/3 and 7 November 2026 [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Catering, including breakfast, lunch and dinner [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Round-trip travel costs to and from Cape Town [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

Beyond logistics, scholars also gain:

- Access to a global network of over 20,000 potential collaborators from 196 countries [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Exclusive Ambassador opportunities, such as speaking events, regional networking, and mentoring sessions [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- The opportunity to represent their country during the Summit's Opening Ceremony [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

Is This a Grant, Loan, or Something Else?

The Leading Scholarship is neither a loan nor a cash grant — it's a fully funded in-kind scholarship covering summit access, accommodation, meals, and flights.

One cost is not covered: if you are selected and require a visa to enter South Africa, you must pay the visa fee yourself, along with any further costs associated with the visa application, including travel to and from the visa application centre. [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

Who Can Apply?

- Applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years old. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

- Eligible countries are open worldwide, with priority given to applicants from underrepresented countries. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

- Priority will be given to first-time Summit attendees, rather than existing One Young World Ambassadors. [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Applicants should be able to demonstrate genuine leadership and community impact, since selection is merit-based.

What You Need Before Applying

1. Personal Information — Name, country of residence, contact details, date of birth, nationality (and dual nationality if applicable).

2. Evidence of Leadership/Impact — Be ready to describe the change you're driving in your community, since this is the core of a merit-based scholarship.

3. Application Answers — The full form includes personal information, application questions, and additional information sections.

4. Visa Planning (if selected) — Budget for visa fees and related travel costs in advance, since these are not covered by the scholarship.

How to Apply for the Leading Scholarship 2026

Step 1 — Visit the Official Application Portal

Go to: 👉 https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/leading-scholarship-2026

Step 2 — Complete Your Personal Information

Enter your name, country of residence, contact details, gender, pronoun, date of birth, and nationality.

Step 3 — Answer the Application Questions

Respond to the questions about your leadership experience and community impact.

Step 4 — Provide Additional Information

Complete any remaining sections requested on the form.

Step 5 — Submit and Await Selection

Selected candidates will be notified via email between June and October 2026. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

Where to Apply

Official Application Portal:

👉 https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/leading-scholarship-2026

General guidance on applying:

👉 https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/how-apply-scholarship

Important Notes

- Applications opened on 11 June 2026 and will remain open until 31 October 2026 [Global South Opportunities](https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2026/06/13/young-22/) — apply early rather than waiting until the deadline.

- Due to the high volume of applications, One Young World is unable to respond to individual emails enquiring about the outcome of the selection process. [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

- Budget separately for visa-related costs if you're selected, since these fall on the applicant.

Tips for a Strong Application

Be Specific About Your Impact — Since this is a merit-based leadership scholarship, avoid vague statements. Describe concrete initiatives, results, and the change you've created.

Highlight Underrepresentation Where Relevant — Since priority goes to applicants from underrepresented countries, be clear about your context and challenges where genuinely applicable.

Apply as a First-Time Attendee If Eligible — Priority is given to those who haven't attended before, so highlight this if it applies to you.

Start Early — With a long application window (June–October), starting early gives you time to refine your answers rather than rushing near the deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Assuming this is a cash scholarship rather than a fully funded trip/summit package.

- Waiting until close to the 31 October deadline to apply.

- Failing to budget for visa costs if selected.

- Submitting vague, generic answers instead of specific, evidence-based leadership examples.

- Emailing to check application status — the organization has stated it cannot respond individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a cash scholarship?

No. It's a fully funded package covering summit access, hotel accommodation, meals, and round-trip travel to Cape Town.

Who can apply?

Young leaders aged 18–35 from any country, with priority given to applicants from underrepresented countries and first-time Summit attendees.

Does it cover visa costs?

No. Selected applicants who need a visa to enter South Africa are responsible for the visa fee and any related travel or application costs. [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/leading-scholarship-2026)

When is the deadline?

Applications close on 31 October 2026. [Global South Opportunities](https://www.globalsouthopportunities.com/2026/06/13/young-22/)

When will I know if I'm selected?

Selected candidates are notified via email between June and October 2026. [Opportunities for Youth](https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/2026/06/14/leading-scholarship-2025-attend-the-one-young-world-summit-in-munich-and-unlock-exclusive-opportunities/)

Where do I apply?

👉 https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/leading-scholarship-2026

Official Links

Application Portal:

https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/scholarship/form/leading-scholarship-2026

How to Apply Guide:

https://apply.oneyoungworld.com/how-apply-scholarship