In partnership with
Sunday, February 1, 2026
University Partnership Sessions
Washington National Cathedral | Washington, D.C.
Monday-Tuesday, February 2-3, 2026
International Religious Freedom Summit
Washington Hilton Hotel | Washington, D.C.
Join other highly-motivated students from around the world as they take part in the annual International Religious Freedom Summit, the premier gathering of the international religious freedom movement.
Led by the Religious Freedom Institute, the University Partnership Program is a tailor-made opportunity for advanced undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in understanding religious freedom as a core human right around the world.
Participants in the University Partnership Program will take part in a half-day seminar on February 1 to include high-impact training sessions, guided simulations, and stimulating conversations with government officials and leading scholars on the topic. At the conclusion of the seminar, students will join a pre-summit event at the Hungarian Embassy.
At the conclusion of the one-day seminar on February 1, students have the option of joining the International Religious Freedom Summit 2026 on February 2 and 3 as full participants, with the opportunity to learn from and network with government officials and civil society leaders from around the world.
Registration includes meals, lodging, and Premium ticket access to the full IRF Summit gathering as applicable. See below for the various registration options.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS
2026 SCHEDULE
| Sunday | FEBRUARY 1 | |||
| 12:30-1:00 | Registration at Washington National Cathedral The Refectory Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016 | |||
| 1:00-1:05 | Welcome to the UPP Program David Trimble, President (RFI) | |||
| 1:05-2:00 | Session #1 Topic: Explore, Embrace, and Express: Why Religious Freedom is Vital to Preserving Human Dignity Speaker: Jim Bennett, Director of the National Center for Religious Freedom Education (RFI) This session explores evidence that suggests that the exercise of religion is a uniquely human trait, the defense of which is indispensable to concepts like human dignity and justice. Additional consideration is given to ways religious freedom functions as the linchpin for other civil liberties that are necessary for stable, democratic societies and flourishing communities. | |||
| 2:00-2:30 | Session #2 Topic: Creating Policy and Exercising Leadership in the Religious Freedom Space Speaker: David Trimble, President (RFI) This session will provide insight into fundamental steps to effectively make and implement laws, develop strong policies and regulations, and create sustainable programs that advance religious freedom for all. | |||
| 2:30-3:00 | IRF Summit Co-Chairs (Sam Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett) Group Photo | |||
| 3:00-3:15 | Break | |||
| 3:15-3:45 | Session #3 Topic: Responding to Totalitarian Threats Speaker: Piero Tozzi, Staff Director, Congressional-Executive Commission on China Looking through the lens of China, this session provides insight into the tools used by totalitarian forms of government to commit human rights abuses and discusses ways to mitigate these actions. | |||
| 3:45-4:15 | Session #4 Topic: Responding to Authoritarian Threats Speaker: Sarah Makin, Former Senior Director for International Religious Freedom at U.S. National Security Council Looking through the lens of the conflict in Ukraine, this session introduces the importance of context in creating political and cultural solutions to critical challenges in authoritarian settings. | |||
| 4:15-5:15 | Session #5: Immersion Experiences and Survivor Stories Presented by 1) Nobody’s Listening Foundation and the 2) Programs on Religion and the Holocaust, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum | |||
| 5:15-5:30 | Closing Speaker: Featured Guest | |||
| 6:30-8:00 | Reception at Embassy of Hungary 3910 Shoemaker St. Washington, DC 20008 | |||
| Monday | February 2 | |||
| IRF Summit 2026 | ||||
| Tuesday | February 3 | |||
| IRF Summit 2026 | ||||
CONFIRM YOUR PARTICIPATION
Interested in participating, individually, on behalf of your department, or institutionally? Register participants here, or reach out to crfe@rfi.org with any questions or to learn more.
