V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" will bring together More Than 100 Countries and 5 Continents
On February 10, 2026, the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" has opened accepting applications. For the fifth year now, the ambitious project has been supporting 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 begins a new stage of its development, expanding its format, geography and thematic areas. For the first time, the Contest provides for country and regional stages with further access to the International stage, which will take place as part of the World Public Summit in September 2026 in Moscow. Previous years' laureates are actively involved in the organization of the Contest, what strengthens the continuity and substantive basis of the Contest.
– 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, the project has already supported 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 take place in 15 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 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 (2016-2018).
In 2026, the Contest runs from February 10 to September 21:
- February 10 - March 31 – acceptance of applications;
- April 1 - 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 for the winners of the regional stages within the framework of 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 laureates of the Contest receive 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 Contest organizers are: the World Peoples Assembly, the Directorate of the World Public Summit, the SCO Center for Public Diplomacy in Uzbekistan, the BRICS Chamber of Commerce and Industry (India); Al-Mamoun University College (Iraq); the Central Union of Workers of Brazil CTB (Brazil); the Her Voice Foundation (Zambia); the Eurasian Partnership Association (Austria); the 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’s 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).
The address for submitting applications for participation in the Contest https://public-diplomacy.org/en/c/v-international-competition/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.
