As the calendar turns to 2026, Fulbright Austria finds itself at a remarkable intersection. Midway through our 75th-anniversary celebrations, we are looking ahead to the next chapter in our shared story of exchange. For 75 years, Fulbright Austria has built bridges between Austria and the United States, connecting generations of students, scholars, and teaching assistants whose lives and work continue to shape the landscapes of knowledge and culture. It was inspiring to see our first-generation Austrian program participant Luitgard Knoll chatting with our current US program participants at our Thank Fulbright – 7hank5giving event, sharing stories from 1951–52 and 2025–26. These are the moments that connect generations in the spirit of Fulbright Austria. These are the moments I am grateful for.
The significance of the start of a new year lies not only in reflection, but in renewal. Our current program participants from both sides of the Atlantic are now deeply immersed in their classrooms, research projects, and host communities, contributing daily to the dialogue that exemplifies Fulbright Austria’s mission. Their experiences echo those of the more than 11,700 alums who came before them, and, at the same time, carve new pathways for understanding and collaboration in a rapidly changing world. This continuity between past, present, and future reminds us that Fulbright Austria’s mission endures because it adapts, meeting new global challenges, be it the shifts in the geopolitical landscape or the terrors of war in Europe, with the courage that inspired its founding.
At the start of 2026 and the midyear point in our academic year, we also celebrate transitions. The first cohort of our 2025–26 scholars is preparing for their return home, ready to translate their experiences into future projects. It was exciting to hear about the experience of our first US Fulbright scholar to the University College of Teacher Education Vorarlberg, Lynn Gibbard, who worked on media and military culture in connection with intercultural understanding. We hope that this initial activity sparks future collaborations like the ones we have seen with so many other program participants. Others are about to embark on their Fulbright Austria journeys abroad, guided by the anticipation and open-mindedness that always mark these transformative experiences. In each of them, we see the promise of the program’s 75 years: a community of bright minds who lead with empathy and insight. Just put yourself in the shoes of our Austrian students, who are in the process of deciding on their dream universities, be it in health technology, international relations, or fine arts. What an exciting time lies before them!
As we continue our 75th anniversary, we invite everyone in the Fulbright Austria community to connect with the community of bright minds at the events we have planned for you in the upcoming months, be it during the ball season in Vienna or at one of the upcoming meet & greets in New York or Vienna. The legacy we continue to celebrate this year is not static; it is a living network of voices and actions that continues to grow with each exchange. Together, we reaffirm Senator Fulbright’s vision of fostering mutual understanding as an enduring pathway to peace and cooperation.
