V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" has extended Acceptance of Applications for the Until April 12

The V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" has extended the acceptance of applications until April 12, 2026. For the fifth year now, the ambitious project has been supported by hundreds of leaders from different countries whose activities are aimed at developing public (people's) diplomacy, strengthening interethnic and interreligious peace and harmony, trust and mutual understanding between peoples.

In 2026, the Contest, expanding its format, geography and thematic areas, began a new stage of its development. For the first time, the Contest provides for country and regional stages with access to the International stage, which will be held as part of the World Public Summit in September 2026 in Moscow. Previous years' laureates are involved in the organization of the Contest, what strengthens the continuity and substantive basis of the competition.

– The Contest brings together leaders to share best practices, build trust and develop humanitarian cooperation, and allows them to present their projects to experts, gain recognition and find partners from other countries. Over the years of its existence, the project has already provided support to public diplomats from 47 countries around the world. The Leader of Public Diplomacy Contest has no borders, representatives of all countries and continents of the Earth can participate in it," - explains Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary General of the World Peoples Assembly.

Nominations of the International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy":

• Cultural diplomacy;

• Educational diplomacy;

• Business diplomacy;

• Scientific diplomacy;

• Tourism diplomacy;

• Sports diplomacy;

• Children's diplomacy;

• Historical memory;

• Gastronomic diplomacy;

• Volunteering.

The official languages of the Contest are Russian, English, Spanish, French, and Arabic.

In 2026, the country stages of the Contest will be held in 16 countries.:

• The Australian Union;

• The State of Japan;

• The Italian Republic;

• Kingdom of Spain;

• Kingdom of Sweden;

• The Republic of Latvia;

• Republic of India;

• Republic of Romania;

• Republic of Uzbekistan;

• Russian Federation;

• Tunisian Republic;

• Federal Republic of Germany;

• Republic of Finland;

• The French Republic;

• Republic of Estonia;

• The Republic of South Africa.

The Chairman of the international jury of the Contest is Rashid Alimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2016-2018.

 In 2026, the Contest runs from February 10 to September 21:

• February 10 - April 12 – acceptance of applications;

• April 13 - June 1 – leadership educational course for the Contest participants;

• April-June – country stages of the Contest;

• April-September - regional stages of the Contest, award ceremonies of the regional stages within the World Public Summits: Arab World, Africa, Europe, Latin America;

• September 19-20 – International stage of the Contest;

• September 20 – the award ceremony of the laureates of the International stage of the Contest at the World Public Summit in Moscow.

The winners of the Contest will get the right to post their profile indicating the main projects in the publicly accessible database of leaders of public diplomacy posted on the Contest's website, and are also invited as experts on international projects of the World Peoples Assembly.

The organizers of the Contest are the World Peoples Assembly, the Directorate of the World Public Summit, the SCO Center for People's Diplomacy in Uzbekistan, the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (India); Al-Mamoun University College (Iraq); the Central Union of Workers of Brazil STV (Brazil); Her Voice Foundation (Zambia); the Eurasian Partnership Association (Austria); International Renaissance Movement (MIR FF) (France); Russkiy Mir Training Center in Rome (Italy); Tunisian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tunis); Sun Ray ry International Foundation for Children (Finland); MaxiFast Center for International Education (Australia), Assembly of the Peoples of Russia, “Friendship Formula” Children's and Youth Diplomacy Development Territory (Russia), Koreeda Enterprises Co., Ltd. (Japan), Russian Children's Center Cape Town (South Africa).

The Contest is supported by the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo).

Address to submit applications for participation in the Contest: https://public-diplomacy.org/ru/c/v-mezdunarodnyi-konkurs/applications

or by e-mail: public-diplomacy@world-assembly.org.

Information about the Contest and its results is posted on the website public-diplomacy.org , information resources of the World Peoples Assembly, partners of the Contest and in the media.

More information for the Media is at media@world-assembly.org.