The Open Society Foundations has selected 31 public intellectuals from seven cities in the Global South to serve as Open Society Fellows for 2025–2026. The fellows are based in Beirut, Buenos Aires, Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Jakarta, Lagos, and Taipei—cities recognized for their vibrant communities of thinkers and cultural contributors. The fellowship aims to support critical discourse and innovative ideas in these urban hubs.
Each fellow was chosen by a panel of external reviewers for their openness to new approaches and commitment to robust public debate. Fellows will receive a $120,000 grant and participate in in-person convenings with a global network of peers, fostering collaboration and social impact. The fellowship reinforces Open Society’s commitment to amplifying voices from the Global South and contributing to dialogue on major global challenges such as human rights, inequality, and climate change.
Projects span diverse disciplines and regions. Selected fellows include a Beirut-based filmmaker documenting queer lives in Syria; a Buenos Aires historian studying criminal justice and far-right politics; a Colombo law student exploring Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic history; a Jakarta-based anthropologist analyzing faith-based humanitarian roles in conflict zones; and a Lagos architect researching Indigenous markets and their environmental and social relevance. These projects aim to reshape public understanding and bring localized insights to global conversations.
