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Opening Session – Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship Leadership Immersion Week
August 24 @ 11:45 am - 2:00 pm
The Commonwealth Leaders Academy (CLA) and the Commonwealth Youth Council invite you to the Opening Session of the 2026 Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship (CYLF) Leadership Immersion Week, taking place in London on Monday, 24 August 2026.
The Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship is a leadership development programme designed to identify, equip and connect exceptional emerging leaders from across the Commonwealth. The inaugural cohort brings together 11 Fellows from 9 Commonwealth countries, selected from 3,933 applications.
The Opening Session marks the formal commencement of the Fellowship’s five-day Leadership Immersion Week in London, bringing together Fellows, representatives of Commonwealth High Commissions, Commonwealth organisations, programme partners, young leaders and other invited guests.
At a time of profound social, economic, technological and geopolitical change, the opening session will explore the leadership required to navigate an increasingly complex world and the role a new generation can play in shaping the future of the Commonwealth.
The programme will feature keynote and special contributions from distinguished leaders and practitioners, alongside the formal introduction of the inaugural Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellows.
The session will also provide an opportunity for participants to connect with representatives from across the Commonwealth community and engage with the vision behind the Fellowship.
Event Details
Date: Monday, 24 August 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM (BST)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Format: In-person
Participation: Registration required
Who Should Attend?
The Opening Session will be particularly relevant to young leaders, youth organisations, Commonwealth networks and affiliated organisations, diplomatic representatives, policymakers, leadership and development practitioners, civil society organisations, academic institutions, and partners interested in youth leadership and Commonwealth cooperation.
About the Leadership Immersion Week
Taking place from 24–28 August 2026, the Leadership Immersion Week is an intensive component of the Commonwealth Young Leaders Fellowship designed to strengthen Fellows’ leadership capabilities through masterclasses, institutional exposure, peer learning and engagement with experienced leaders and practitioners.
Throughout the week, Fellows will develop competencies spanning self-leadership and resilience; influence and communication; collaborative leadership; problem-solving and innovation; and project delivery and impact, before presenting and receiving feedback on projects they will advance through the Fellowship.
Join Us
Places for the Opening Session are limited. Interested participants are invited to register their interest to join the inaugural Fellows and members of the wider Commonwealth community for the formal opening of the 2026 Leadership Immersion Week.