ACLS Announces 2026-27 Fellowship and Grant Competitions

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce its 2026-27 fellowship and grant competitions.

ACLS offers programs that promote research across all fields of the humanities and social sciences, as well as programs focused on public engagement beyond the academy. In 2026, ACLS proudly celebrates 100 years of grantmaking to individual scholars.

Application deadlines vary by program. Applications are now open for ACLS Fellowships, Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art, Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships, and ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships and Grants. Applications for additional programs will open in the coming months.

Please note that all of this year’s competitions will close at 5:00 PM ET.

Our application, peer review, and award processes aim to promote inclusive excellence, and we welcome applicants from groups that are underrepresented in the academic humanities and from across the diverse landscape of higher education.

September 17, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• ACLS Fellowships

October 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art
• Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowships
• Summer Institute for the Study of East Central and Southeastern Europe
• The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowships in Buddhist Studies
• The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Early Career Research Fellowships in Buddhist Studies

November 5, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies – Long-term
• Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies – Flexible
• Luce/ACLS Travel Grants in China Studies

November 11, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• ACLS HBCU Faculty Fellowships
• ACLS HBCU Faculty Grants

November 20, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

• ACLS Digital Justice Development Grant
• ACLS Digital Justice Seed Grants
• The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Public Impact Grants in Buddhist Studies

January 13, 2027, 5:00 PM ET

• ACLS Graduate Internships on the Spiritual Infrastructure of the Future

February 1, 2027, 5:00 PM ET

• The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation New Professorships in Buddhist Studies

March 10, 2027, 5:00 PM ET

• ACLS Leading Edge Fellowships

April 2, 2027, 5:00 PM ET

• The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholars

We encourage you to share this message with members of your community who may be interested in these fellowship and grant opportunities.

For general questions, please review our FAQ or contact [email protected]