The 2025 competition is closed.
The 2026 competition will open for applications in late summer 2025.
The Guggenheim Fellowship supports individuals who have achieved notable success in their careers across the creative arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. It is designed for mid-career professionals whose work is well-established. Potential Fellows have already made significant contributions to their field and are eager for time and resources that will allow them to further their meaningful work.
While many applicants are affiliated with an academic institution or university, independent scholars, writers, and artists are eligible to apply.
A Guggenheim Fellowship term may last from six months to one year, although the proposed project does not need to be completed within that period
We do not require academics to be on sabbatical leave or free from administrative or teaching duties during the Fellowship period, but it’s fine if they are. Also, we do not commit to replacing full salaries or guaranteeing specific costs. The award funds can generally be used for any purpose related to the pursuit of the Fellow’s project – living expenses, materials, travel, equipment, etc.
01
August & September
Applicants should begin by creating an account on the Guggenheim Fellowship application portal. (This is only available when the competition is open.) During this time, you will craft your application (project proposal, career narrative, and list of works), reach out to potential references, and gather the work samples that best reflect your achievements.
Please note: The staff at the Guggenheim Foundation cannot advise you on the content of your application or work samples.
02
November to December
This phase focuses on showcasing the depth and quality of your achievements. The Guggenheim Foundation will contact you with instructions on submitting your chosen work samples, which are critical for evaluation. Separately, we will contact all of your references, asking them to upload reference letters directly to our portal.
03
January to April
After you have submitted all of your materials, our advisers (readers or jurors, depending on the field) review the completed applications in their domains and submit recommendations to the Committee of Selection. The Committee of Selection considers advisers’ recommendations and finalizes a list of Nominees to be sent to the Board of Trustees for review and approval. Typically, new Fellows are announced in April.
The Foundation has a network of several hundred advisers who either meet at the Foundation offices to look at applicants’ work or receive application materials to read offsite. During the Guggenheim Fellowship selection process, our expert advisers carefully assess each application, ensuring that the evaluation is impartial, comprehensive, and of the highest possible standard. We keep the identities of the advisers confidential, guaranteeing a fair and meticulous review and ensuring that the focus stays squarely on the merit and originality of your work.
We regret that we are unable to provide feedback on applications or offer reasons for rejection.