News
Call for participants: International Summer Academies 2026 (level 1 and 2)
The International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz Memorial will organize two editions of the International Summer Academy in 2026 – the 1st and 2nd level seminars.
• Level 1: July 13–18, 2026 (Kraków & Oświęcim)
• Level 2: August 8–15, 2026 (Gdańsk & Oświęcim)
The goal of the ISA is to familiarize participants with the history of the German Nazi camp Auschwitz in a broader historical context. The seminar also provides a space for reflection on the significance of the symbol of Auschwitz in today's world and the contemporary remembrance.
Level 1 seminar is open to teachers and educators, historians and museum/memorial staff, students and people interested in World War II and Holocaust history.
Location: Kraków and Oświęcim
Dates: July 13-18, 2026
Cost estimate: 550€ (final cost depends on the number of participants). It includes program, accommodation and board.
Participants will be chosen based on the order of application submission.
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Level 2 seminar is addressed to graduates of all seminars for teachers and educators organized by the ICEAH.
Location: Lublin and Oświęcim
Dates: August 8-15, 2026
Cost estimate: 800€ (final cost depends on the number of participants). It includes program, accommodation and board.
Participants will be chosen based on the order of application submission.
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Important Details for Both Seminars
• ISA seminars will be conducted in English.
• All participants will receive a certificate of completion.
• Participants must cover health insurance and travel costs to and from the seminar locations.
• Each seminar is limited to 25 participants.
• Application deadline: April 10, 2026 (registration may close earlier if spots are filled).
You can apply using the online application form.
If you have any additional questions about the seminars, please contact the coordinators:
Level 1:
Level 2:
Opinions of past ISA’s participants
Having joined the International Summer Academy at Auschwitz for three times (the seminar at level 1 and two seminars for graduates at level 2), I wholeheartedly recommend this program. The insightful study tour, well-organized structure, and impactful historical exploration make it a unique experience. The tour takes you to places not typically visited, broadening your perspective. Additionally, the exceptional group of participants contributes to a supportive and engaging environment, fostering lasting connections beyond the program.
Niina Väntänen, Finland
As an Australian educator I found the 2022 International Summer Academy so valuable I could not wait to apply for the 2023 International Summer Academy for graduates. My 2022 experience of studying and learning from experts at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, along with the access to areas beyond what is available to regular visitors, was a professional learning opportunity that was only matched by my 2023 experience of following in the footsteps of the Jews from the Lodz Ghetto in the graduate program. I cannot recommend these experiences highly enough to any educator who teaches the Holocaust as a way of increasing your own knowledge and understanding of what happened at Auschwitz-Birkenau so you can better teach and share that learning with your students. These programs are an absolute must do professional learning opportunity for any Holocaust educator.
Alexnadra Cashin, Australia
Participating in the International Summer Academy allowed me to truly understand the depths of the Holocaust. It's very easy to reduce the victims to numbers but the ISA team were able to make you see every person as a human and an individual, allowing you to truly understand the wide scope of the Holocaust, as well as teaching us the humanity of people, and how we can learn from it, beyond the graphic images and evidence left behind. It was a valuable experience and one I'll never forget.
Minnie Coldman, UK
If you want to deepen your knowledge about Auschwitz and the whole process of the Finale Solution of the Jewish question, I would highly recommend to participate to the International Summer Academy. I participated three times and each time was great thanks to the great quality of the lecturers and the visits on site. The ISA allows you to really spend the time in the camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, and to see places where you would usually not go. It gives a real idea of the size, the evolution and the use of the different parts of these camps. The ISA broadens your reflection on the purpose and the mechanisms put in place by the perpetrators. You also get the chance to meet other participants from all over the world with whom you can exchange on the topic of teaching, explaining and transmitting this history. It is really a great experience for anyone interested by the topic.
Anne Hagen, France
