Summits blend an educational tour with a dynamic, multi-day leadership conference, and are open to rising ninth-graders through graduated seniors. Students from all over come together to build essential skills needed for their futures by tackling real global challenges in teams. Each year, Summit ends with a live pitch-off, where the winning student project is showcased at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
EF Global Leadership Summits
Where students discover their power to lead, innovate, and make a difference
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What is an EF Global Leadership Summit?
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Hear from changemakers
Join workshops and discussions with Nobel laureates, UN leaders, and icons like Jane Goodall and Al Gore—pushing students to think bigger and lead change.
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Go on an educational tour
Every Summit experience is anchored to an educational tour where students dig into the leadership conference’s theme while also exploring new places and cultures.
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Tackle global challenges
Students team up for a project-based challenge on the Summit theme. They’ll identify a global issue, ideate solutions, and develop a final prototype over three days.
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Compete in a pitch-off
Groups learn about public-speaking, craft a project pitch, and present their work. The winning prototype earns a place of honor at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm.
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Keynote speaker
Malala Yousafzai
Our three-day leadership conference will be headlined by Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. Students will hear firsthand how she exemplifies social responsibility through her advocacy for equitable access to education. She will challenge students to think bigger about their own voice, their responsibility to others, and the impact they can make when they lead with purpose.
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Student growth, super-charged
EF Global Leadership Summits are uniquely crafted using our educational method. Summits take learning beyond the classroom by engaging students in real-world experiences and project-based challenges. Through this approach, students develop essential future-ready skills that prepare them for success in college and their careers.
Each year, the winning student project is featured alongside the work of Nobel Laureates at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
Choose your EF Global Leadership Summit
Kyoto: Emerging Technology
Technology has always been at the heart of human progress, shaping how we learn, work, and connect across cultures. And right now, emerging technology—from robotics and artificial intelligence to digital communication and beyond—is transforming our lives faster than we ever imagined. The question isn’t whether change is coming; it’s how we can fully embrace it. Journey through Asia and join us in Kyoto, Japan for EF's 2028 Global Leadership Summit on Emerging Technology. Students will discover how we can use it to reimagine education, redefine careers, and reshape the way humans connect in the world we all share. Sound big? It is. We decide where technology takes us. Let’s choose somewhere worth going, together.
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Tokyo, Kyoto, Leadership Conference & Osaka: Culinary Innovation at Work
11 days
Japan
July 5–15, 2028
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Leadership Conference, Tokyo, Kyoto & Osaka: Culinary Innovation at Work
11 days
Japan
July 4–14, 2028
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Tokyo & Leadership Conference: Education in a Changing World
10 days
Japan
July 3–12, 2028
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Tokyo & Leadership Conference: The Future of Learning
10 days
Japan
July 4–13, 2028
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Leadership Conference & Tokyo: The Future of Learning
10 days
Japan
July 5–14, 2028
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Seoul & Leadership Conference: Educating Society
10 days
Japan & South Korea
July 4–13, 2028
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Leadership Conference & Seoul: Educating Society
10 days
South Korea & Japan
July 6–15, 2028
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Hiroshima, Osaka & Leadership Conference: The Power of Human Connection
10 days
Japan
July 5–14, 2028
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Tokyo & Leadership Conference: Connecting Through Pop Culture
9 days
Japan
July 5–13, 2028
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Leadership Conference & Tokyo: Connecting Through Pop Culture
9 days
Japan
July 6–14, 2028
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Tokyo, Kyoto & Leadership Conference: Connecting a Nation
9 days
Japan
July 4–12, 2028
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Leadership Conference, Tokyo & Kyoto: Connecting a Nation
9 days
Japan
July 6–14, 2028
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Leadership Conference, Takayama region, Kanazawa & Tokyo: Connecting Tradition to Tomorrow
10 days
Japan
July 7–16, 2028
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Shanghai & Leadership Conference: The Future of Work
11 days
China & Japan
July 3–13, 2028
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Leadership Conference & Shanghai: The Future of Work
11 days
Japan & China
July 6–16, 2028
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what’s included
Everything that’s packed into an EF Global Leadership Summit
Your students’ price covers it all—round-trip flights, transportation, guided tours, and every detail you haven’t even thought of yet. All your students have to do? Show up ready to try new things, explore new places, discover new interests, and make new friends.
The EF tour experience
We’ll book it all for you—transportation, an expert Tour Director and local guides, hotels, select meals, guided tours, and more.
The Summit experience
Everything during the three-day conference is covered—workshops, keynote sessions, meals, and more.
Industry-leading safety measures
EF staff are on the ground in 114 countries, ready to support you 24/7. With 60+ years of experience, we’re prepared for anything.
A whole wide world of support
We’ll help you plan every detail, get your students and families excited, and make sure you feel confident and ready to go.
Frequently asked questions
Let’s unpack that
Let’s save your spot
Whether you’re ready to start planning an EF Global Leadership Summit for your students or have additional questions, we’re here to help.