Bellagio Center Residency Program 2027 in Italy by The Rockefeller Foundation
Country: Italy
Location: Lake Como
Organization: The Rockefeller Foundation
Program Name: Bellagio Center Residency Program
Category: Residency Program
Deadline: March 20, 2026, 5pm EDT
Program Overview
Applications are now open for the 2027 Bellagio Center Residency Program. The program brings together a global community of leaders who are working to turn ambitious ideas into solutions that move the world forward. For nearly 70 years, the Bellagio Center Residency Program has supported innovators, trailblazers, changemakers, and champions as they advance specific breakthrough projects.
Based in Lake Como, Italy, the residency lasts 26 days and gives participants focused, uninterrupted time to develop their work while being part of an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural cohort. Residents also remain connected to The Rockefeller Foundation after the residency through the Bellagio Network.
What the Program Offers
The Bellagio Center Residency Program offers 26 days at The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Lake Como, Italy. Participants receive room and board, a private studio for working, travel funding, and the opportunity to join a shared community of up to 14 scholars, artists, and practitioners from around the world. The program also includes future participation in an international network of Bellagio Center alumni united by the shared purpose of creating a better world.
Who They Are Looking For
The program is intended for leaders with significant achievement and recognition in their field. According to the official description, residents should be forward-looking, have a track record of advancing breakthrough ideas or actions with tremendous impact, and be aligned with The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission to promote the well-being of humanity. Applicants should also be curious, collaborative, open to giving and receiving feedback from a diverse group of fellow residents, and excited to remain active in the Bellagio Network after their residency.
Project Focus
The Bellagio Center Residency Program supports leading thinkers, doers, and creators from any discipline whose projects demonstrate clear social impact and work toward the betterment of humanity. The Foundation states that it seeks work that offers novel solutions, generates new knowledge, or inspires change for those who need it most, with a focus on advancements for the public, scholarship, and/or charitable beneficiaries over private or for-profit gains.
Applications are encouraged when projects include at least one of the following dimensions: unlocking solutions for vulnerable populations by engaging unlikely partners, developing solutions that empower people and communities, or driving solutions at scale for those who need it most through innovative financing and technological advances.
Application Channels
The Rockefeller Foundation selects leaders for the program through two channels. The General Open Call welcomes exceptional leaders from any field or area of practice. The Thematic Open Call prioritizes residencies aligned with the themes outlined by the Foundation.
Themes
The themes listed on the official page are Universal Energy Abundance, Food Systems and Nutrition, Economic Mobility, Health, Artificial Intelligence for Good, Catalytic Finance, and Climate and Development.
Eligible Applicant Types
The Bellagio Center Residency Program is available to a range of leaders, including academics and scholars, artists, and practitioners.
Academics and Scholars
This category includes university- and think tank-based academics, researchers, professors, and scientists working in any discipline. The official page notes that these projects frequently advance a scholarly discipline or field of study and often lead to a published book or article.
Artists
Eligible artists include writers and creators such as composers, fiction and non-fiction writers, playwrights, poets, video or filmmakers, dancers, musicians, and visual artists. The Foundation states that these applicants should share its mission of promoting the well-being of humanity and produce work that inspires change and action. All applicants in this category are asked to explain in their application how the work will ensure public access. Art projects may be in the research, production, and/or post-production stage.
Practitioners
Practitioners include senior-level nonprofit leaders, journalists, private-sector leaders, and public advocates across a variety of fields and sectors. The official page says these projects may take forms such as books, articles, organizational plans, and policy briefs to advance work on behalf of vulnerable populations and global challenges, especially those facing underserved societies.
Timeline
Applications for the 2027 Bellagio Center Residency Program are now open. The deadline to apply to join the 2027 cohort is March 20, 2026, at 5pm EDT. The official page also states that all applications and participation are subject to the Bellagio Center Residency Program Terms and Conditions.
Bellagio Community
According to the official page, the Bellagio Center welcomes approximately 100 residents annually on average. These residents come from all over the world and represent a wide cross-section of expertise.
