The AI Civic Action Accelerator 2026 is a free, six-session, part-time programme offered by the Aspen Policy Academy for individuals and teams developing practical policy solutions to civic artificial intelligence challenges. The virtual programme helps participants refine early-stage ideas, develop policy outputs, build advocacy strategies, and prepare to present a concrete solution to a decision-maker. Sessions run from October 22 to December 3, 2026, and the final application deadline is September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: AI Civic Action Accelerator
Category: Policy Accelerator / Short Course
Host: Aspen Policy Academy
Format: Virtual and part-time
Duration: Six sessions
Programme Dates: October 22–December 3, 2026
Cost: Free-of-charge for participants, subject to the programme’s attendance and completion requirements
Final Application Deadline: September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
About the AI Civic Action Accelerator 2026
The AI Civic Action Accelerator supports early-stage projects that aim to improve the relationship between governments, communities, and artificial intelligence.
Applicants should already have a promising civic AI policy idea that needs further development. For example, a project may need clearer scope, feasibility assessment, stakeholder identification, or a stronger policy-engagement strategy.
Projects may address issues such as public participation through AI, youth online safety, transparent and equitable government use of AI, or the effects of AI-driven automation on particular sectors of the workforce.
The programme is intended to help participants move from an emerging policy idea toward a practical solution that can be presented to a real decision-maker.
What Participants Will Work On
The accelerator combines policy instruction with hands-on development of each participant’s project.
Participants will:
✓ Learn the Aspen Policy Academy framework for achieving policy impact
✓ Refine the scope of a civic AI policy problem
✓ Identify relevant stakeholders
✓ Assess alternative policy solutions
✓ Develop practical policy outputs
✓ Create an advocacy and engagement strategy
✓ Receive feedback from peers and Aspen Policy Academy instructors
✓ Prepare a concrete civic AI policy solution
✓ Pitch the developed solution to an actual decision-maker
Participants also gain access to insights from other cohort members and ongoing opportunities and resources available to Academy alumni.
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Programme Format and Schedule
The AI Civic Action Accelerator is delivered entirely remotely.
It consists of six Thursday sessions. Each session lasts two hours and runs from 9:30–11:30 a.m. PT / 12:30–2:30 p.m. ET.
The confirmed session dates are:
• October 22, 2026
• October 29, 2026
• November 5, 2026
• November 12, 2026
• November 19, 2026
• December 3, 2026
Each session combines instruction with hands-on workshopping.
Participants should also expect to spend approximately 8–10 additional hours per week completing readings and assignments outside the scheduled sessions.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are accepted from both individuals and teams.
Teams may include a maximum of four people and submit a single application for the entire group.
The programme is looking for applicants with a promising civic AI policy solution that still requires refinement.
Potential applicants include:
• People with subject-matter expertise in technology or artificial intelligence
• Engineers
• Technology start-up founders
• Technology policy communications professionals
• Technology lawyers
• Community members working toward a specific local civic AI policy change
Applicants do not need to be AI experts. The programme particularly welcomes engaged community members who want to influence AI-related policy in their local communities.
Eligibility Requirements
All applicants must meet the programme’s core eligibility requirements.
Applicants must:
• Be at least 21 years old by the beginning of the programme.
• Be fluent in English.
• Live in the United States, or be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident living abroad.
• Have a somewhat developed policy solution related to a civic AI challenge.
• Be available to participate in the required programme activities.
Students and recent graduates may apply if they are at least 21 and satisfy the other programme-specific requirements.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are living abroad may also participate if they can attend all scheduled sessions.
Policy Experience
The AI Civic Action Accelerator is an introductory programme and is best suited to applicants with little or no previous policy experience.
Applicants who already have significant policy experience may be more advanced than the programme’s intended level. This may include people who previously worked in policy roles or completed a master’s degree in public policy.
Candidates with substantial policy experience may still explain in their application why the accelerator would be useful to them. However, the programme may prioritise applicants with less policy experience if applications exceed available places.
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Attendance and Completion Requirements
Successful applicants are expected to attend the programme consistently and complete the required assignments.
Participants may miss no more than two hours of programming under the standard attendance policy.
For team applications, at least one team representative must attend every session.
Participants are also expected to complete required readings, assignments, and policy outputs. Successful completion of the programme leads to a completion badge.
Programme Cost
The accelerator is explicitly described as free-of-charge for participants.
However, the free participation arrangement comes with attendance and completion conditions.
A participant who enrolls and exceeds the permitted absence or fails to complete required assignments may be required to pay a $500 fee per person to cover programme-related staff costs.
Teams that fail to have at least one representative present during required sessions may also be subject to the programme’s attendance consequences.
Individual and Team Applications
Applicants do not need to form a team to participate.
Individuals and teams receive equal consideration under the programme’s application process.
For team applications:
• A team may contain up to four people.
• Only one application should be submitted for the team.
• The application requests the names and contact details of all team members.
• Applicants may not apply more than once or participate in two separate team applications.
Selection Timeline
The official programme timeline provides the following dates:
• Application period: July 16–September 1, 2026
• Priority deadline: August 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
• Final deadline: September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
• Possible interviews for a subset of applicants: Mid-September 2026
• Participants admitted: Late September 2026
• Programme begins: October 22, 2026
• Final session: December 3, 2026
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Application Deadline
The programme provides both a priority deadline and a final deadline.
• Priority Deadline: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
• Final Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT
The official timeline states that the application period runs from July 16 through September 1, 2026.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official Aspen Policy Academy application portal below.
