Applications are Open for the 2026 McCain Global Leaders Program

Name of the Event: McCain Global Leaders Program

Duration: 12 Months

Last Date of Application: 15 March 2026

Link to Apply:

Apply Here

The McCain Global Leaders Program supports character-driven leaders from around the world who embody Senator John McCain’s legacy of serving a cause greater than oneself.

The 2026 Cohort of McCain Global Leaders will undertake an intensive, non-residential 12-month curriculum that focuses on the global theme of Advancing Freedom, Defending Rights, Creating Opportunity. The McCain Institute will seek to identify a diverse cohort of leaders who are working to advance democracy and human rights in their home countries through a variety of professions and projects.

The 2026 theme for the McCain Global Leaders program is Advancing Freedom, Defending Rights, Creating Opportunity. Additionally, each region has its own technical area of focus:

• Western Hemisphere- Building Partnerships, Advancing Migration Solutions

• Europe and Eurasia- Countering Authoritarians – Leveraging Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights

• Africa and the Middle East- From Protest to Policy – Growing Democracy for All

• Asia and Oceania- Creating Stability by Advancing Democracy and Freedom

  
  

Eligibility:

Applicants are selected through a competitive, open recruitment process. Though there is no age requirement, those selected are typically mid-career professionals between the ages of 25 and 45.

We are not the official organisers of the program. If you have any queries regarding it, kindly contact the organisers at leadershipinitiatives@mccaininstitute.org