What does “The Internet we want” mean to you? What impact have you had on the Wikimedia movement to date and what do you hope to contribute in the future?
These are just some of the questions in the scholarship application to attend Wikimania 2027 in Santiago, Chile. The application form is now live and will be open through the end of the day on October 31, 2026. Applications will be accepted in any language, although the three official languages for this year’s event are preferred – Spanish, Portuguese, and English.
Why apply?
Scholarships to Wikimania 2027 cover travel to Santiago, hotel accommodation, and registration for the conference, which will take place from August 18 to 21.
Successful scholarship applicants are expected to volunteer for at least 4 to 6 hours during the event, in addition to participating in conference sessions and activities. Each year, Wikimania scholars form connections and friendships with other scholars from around the world. They also report that volunteering as a scholar gave them a strong sense of teamwork.
What happens next?
If you are interested, please check out the detailed information on the Scholarships section of the Wikimania wiki, including the FAQ. There will also be “Road to Santiago” orientation sessions for potential applicants in Spanish, Portuguese and English starting the week of October 5, 2026.
As you prepare your application, we encourage you to think carefully about what makes you unique as an individual and to share concrete examples of your work. We are looking for authenticity, as well as empathy, curiosity, and the ability to work with others. We are also very interested to hear your ideas for “The Internet we want” and your vision for how we can make it a reality.
The selection criteria will be based on the answers and factual evidence provided in the application. Please include links to your work! We also take into account how the Wikimania experience would enhance the candidates’ contributions to the movement in the future.
All scholarship applications must be submitted by the end of day on October 31, 2026. Successful applications will be notified starting in January 2027. Our goal is to notify scholars well ahead of the event, to allow those who need visas to start making arrangements as soon as possible.
Other ways to participate
The Wikimania Scholarships Team usually receives thousands of applications and is unable to fund every promising candidate. We encourage unsuccessful applicants to apply to their local or regional affiliates who may have scholarships available.
The general request for invitation process for self-funded Wikimania 2027 attendees will open in April 2027. All in-person attendees, including Wikimania scholarship applicants, will be subject to trust and safety checks before receiving invitations to attend.
Finally, registration for virtual attendees will remain open until 24 hours prior to the start of Wikimania 2027. While some sessions will not be streamed, each year we are making improvements to the online experience.
Santiago aims to provide a unique South American setting for a conference that will celebrate the global movement of today while also daring to imagine a hopeful, equitable, and inclusive future. Keep an eye on the Wikimania wiki for further updates!