Join us for Session 1 of the Fall 2026 Cultural Diplomacy Initiative Study Group--a five-part series designed for anyone interested in exploring how culture can serve as a source of connection, dialogue, and resilience amid rapidly changing political, social, and technological conditions. Across five sessions, the series will explore sports as a platform for diplomacy and international cooperation; cultural institutions as enduring channels of communication; the implications of artificial intelligence for creativity and cultural ownership; storytelling, identity, and belonging; and the protection of cultural heritage during conflict.
Bringing together leading artists, athletes, cultural institutions, policymakers, scholars, and practitioners, the sessions will connect historical case studies with contemporary challenges and examine both the possibilities and limitations of culture as a diplomatic tool. Together, the series aims to deepen our understanding of how cultural exchange—in stadiums and concert halls, through technology and storytelling, and in the preservation of shared heritage—can build trust, sustain relationships, preserve identity and memory, and create space for dialogue when other channels of communication become more difficult.
The series is led by Carla Dirlikov Canales, a Fellow for the Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft at the Belfer Center. Canales is also a Visiting Professor at the Korbel School of International Studies. She served the first Senior Advisor and Envoy for Cultural Exchange at the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities during the Biden Administration, and has served as a U.S. State Department Arts Envoy since 2005.
Fall 2026 Sessions:
September 16th: Beyond the Final Whistle: Lessons in Sports Diplomacy from the 2026 World Cup
September 30th: Keeping the Door Open: Culture, Trust & Diplomacy in Difficult Times
October 28th: Culture in the Age of AI: Identity, Ownership & Human Creativity
November 10th: Who Owns a Story? Culture, Identity & Belonging
December 2nd: What Do We Save? Protecting Cultural Heritage in an Age of Conflict
Facts Only
* The initiative is a five-part series for Fall 2026.
* Session topics include sports diplomacy, cultural institutions, AI implications, storytelling/identity, and cultural heritage protection during conflict.
* Sessions are scheduled for September 16th, September 30th, October 28th, November 10th, and December 2nd.
* The series aims to explore how cultural exchange builds trust, sustains relationships, preserves identity, and facilitates dialogue.
* Carla Dirlikov Canales leads the series and is a Fellow for the Program on Diplomacy and Statecraft at the Belfer Center.
* Canales served as Senior Advisor/Envoy for Cultural Exchange in the Biden Administration and as a U.S. State Department Arts Envoy since 2005.
Executive Summary
A five-part study group on Cultural Diplomacy will be held in Fall 2026, exploring how culture fosters connection, dialogue, and resilience amidst current political, social, and technological shifts. The series will examine five core themes: sports as diplomacy, cultural institutions as communication channels, the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and ownership, the relationship between storytelling, identity, and belonging, and the protection of cultural heritage during conflict. The sessions are designed to connect historical examples with contemporary issues, assessing the role of culture in building trust, sustaining relationships, and creating space for dialogue when other communication channels are strained.
The series will be led by Carla Dirlikov Canales, who has served as a Senior Advisor and Envoy for Cultural Exchange in the Biden Administration and as a U.S. State Department Arts Envoy since 2005. The planned schedule includes sessions on September 16th, September 30th, October 28th, November 10th, and December 2nd, addressing specific topics such as sports diplomacy, cultural trust in difficult times, AI's role in creativity, identity, and heritage protection.