Rockefeller Foundation Announces 2026 Bellagio Center Residencies and Opens Call for 2027

2026 class joins more than 5,000 changemakers from more than 140 countries making an impact in communities around the world since 1959

NEW YORK | March 3, 2026 — The Rockefeller Foundation today announced that 87 leaders from six continents are joining the Bellagio Center Residency Program’s 2026 Class, and it opened a call for applications for 2027 residencies with a deadline of March 20, 2026, 5:00pm EDT. Representing a range of critical expertise and professional backgrounds, the 2026 Class joins a program that has hosted more than 5,000 trailblazers and changemakers from more than 140 countries, including 18 Nobel Laureates, since 1959. The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center Residency offers a combination of uninterrupted work time in a unique environment, alongside the opportunity for collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange. Participants are connected to a global network of alumni, all of whom have demonstrated a commitment to creating lasting impact in their communities and around the world.

“The 2026 Bellagio Center residents represent the breadth and depth of leadership needed to address our most pressing global challenges and help communities flourish,” said Natalye Paquin, Chief Operating Officer at The Rockefeller Foundation. “From health innovators to pioneering scientists and thought leaders reimagining what’s possible, these changemakers’ time at Bellagio will advance transformative work that will resonate for generations.”

For nearly 70 years, the Bellagio Center Residency Program has brought global leaders together to connect, collaborate, and create breakthrough solutions that change the world. During this time, The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center has hosted some of the most innovative, bold, and committed leaders of our time, including economists Amartya Sen and Milton Friedman, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa Dikgang Moseneke, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, renowned author Maya Angelou, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, and many more.

The 2026 class will advance critical work across multiple disciplines:

• Transforming Food Systems: Residents will explore projects to address hunger and planetary health, focusing on fostering sustainable, equitable food systems.
• Reimagining Health: Residents will develop strategies to build resilient health systems and reinvent technologies critical to global wellbeing.
• Advancing Economic Opportunity: Residents will create frameworks to advance equitable economic growth, workforce transformation, and sustainable investment.
• Advancing Climate Solutions: Residents will work on projects to accelerate climate action, integrating science, indigenous knowledge, and innovative policy.
• Shaping the AI and Technology Landscape: Residents will explore AI development that prioritizes human connection, equity, and social good.
• Strengthening Democracy and Civic Engagement: Residents will develop strategies to strengthen democratic institutions and foster inclusive civic participation.
• Amplifying Voices Through Art and Storytelling: Artists, writers, and other creatives will create works that challenge assumptions, preserve cultural heritage, and inspire global dialogue.

“Each year, we are humbled by the caliber of leaders who come to Bellagio — and the 2026 class is no exception,” said Eason Jordan, Senior Vice President for Connected Leaders at The Rockefeller Foundation. “These residents are not just advancing their individual projects; they’re building bridges across disciplines, geographies, and perspectives, and building solutions that will shape our collective future.”