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Registration is now open for LeadBalkans 2026, the Western Balkans’ flagship diaspora conference and one of the region’s most significant events of the year. Organised by the Western Balkans Fund, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan to Albania, the International Visegrad Fund, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the conference brings together citizens of the Western Balkans living both in the region and abroad.
LeadBalkans 2026 addresses the complex and pressing issue of diaspora engagement at a time of unprecedented global mobility. In a region facing sustained out-migration, the conference starts from a clear premise: diasporas are not external actors, but essential partners in change. Through their expertise, professional credibility, investment potential and transnational networks, diaspora communities can play a decisive role in fostering economic growth, social cohesion and long-term resilience.
The conference aims to showcase good practices and lessons learned in diaspora engagement while moving beyond dialogue towards concrete cooperation. It will create a collaborative space for regional governments and institutions, diaspora organisations and networks, private sector actors and investors, academia and research communities, as well as youth leaders and emerging professionals.
Thematic priorities for LeadBalkans 2026 include cultural cooperation, education, and innovation, with a strong focus on achieving a “multiplier effect” that generates sustained impact over time. Through panel discussions and hands-on workshops, participants will explore how diaspora knowledge, skills and resources can contribute to policy development, skills circulation, regular migration pathways and sustainable development across the Western Balkans.
The conference is open to diaspora professionals and entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, government and municipal representatives, researchers, academics, students, youth leaders and innovators. Particular emphasis is placed on engaging the academic diaspora and contributors interested in strengthening development outcomes through knowledge exchange and institutional cooperation.
Learn more and register here: https://westernbalkansfund.org/registration-is-now-open-for-leadbalkans-2026-the-western-balkans-flagship-diaspora-conference/