Participation Terms

These Participation Terms govern participation in the International Cultures Celebration 2027 and the broader International Cultures Celebration ecosystem, including the City Showcase Competition, Passport to the World, Mundus S.E.E.D. membership, Public Voting, and sponsor and tourism board engagement.

City Showcase Participation

Participation in the City Showcase Competition is subject to the following conditions:

• Submission of a complete and accurate City Application by the applicable deadline (September 15, 2026 for the 2027 founding cycle)
• Compliance with all qualification review requirements
• Official government or authorized institutional endorsement
• Agreement to the standard City Showcase participation fee ($100,000 from 2028; subject to the 2027 Founding City Showcase Grant for qualifying cities — country must have 3+ qualified candidate cities by September 15, 2026)
• Compliance with all NYC event, media, and ecosystem participation guidelines
• Good-faith participation in Passport to the World activation, S.E.E.D. organization support, and Country Star coordination

2027 Founding City Showcase Grant

The 2027 Founding City Showcase Grant waives the standard $100,000 City Showcase participation fee for one qualifying winning city per participating nation, subject to the following conditions:

• The country must have three or more qualified city candidates participating in the national selection process by September 15, 2026
• The winning city must complete all required application and qualification steps by September 15, 2026
• Winning cities are announced September 21, 2026
• The grant applies to the 2027 cycle only; the standard $100,000 fee applies from 2028
• The grant is subject to final approval by the International Cultures Mission

Passport to the World Participation

Passport to the World traveler participants agree to:

• Provide accurate registration information
• Use their Passport to the World number for legitimate personal participation only
• Not transfer, sell, or share their Passport to the World number with others
• Comply with all event, venue, and ecosystem participation rules during the Celebration

S.E.E.D. Organization Membership

S.E.E.D. Member Organizations agree to represent themselves accurately, use membership tools in accordance with the S.E.E.D. program guidelines, and support the International Cultures Celebration ecosystem in good faith.

Sponsor & Tourism Board Participation

Sponsor and tourism board participation is governed by individual partnership agreements. Submission of an engagement request does not constitute a commitment or guarantee of sponsorship or official partnership status.

Data Consent

By submitting any form on this Platform, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in the Privacy Policy and these Participation Terms. You consent to receiving follow-up communications from Immigrants Alliance, the International Cultures Mission, and their authorized partners regarding your inquiry or application.

Intellectual Property, Program Format & Use Restrictions

The International Cultures Celebration, Passport to the World, City Showcase Competition, S.E.E.D. participation structure, program format, event sequence, application framework, pavilion model, public voting process, sponsorship structure, participation materials, written content, visual presentation, forms, names, slogans, program descriptions, and related operating methods are proprietary creative and organizational assets of the International Cultures Celebration ecosystem and its authorized producing and participating entities.

All rights are reserved. No person, organization, sponsor, government partner, applicant, contractor, vendor, or third party may copy, reproduce, adapt, operate, sell, license, rebrand, imitate, or create a confusingly similar version of the Celebration, Passport to the World, S.E.E.D. structure, City Showcase model, or related program formats without written authorization.

Submission of an application, engagement request, sponsor partnership request, or any other form does not grant rights to the underlying program format, operating methods, or proprietary materials. Authorized participation is governed by the terms of a separate participation agreement where one is executed.

Amendment

These Participation Terms may be updated as the International Cultures Celebration ecosystem develops. Material changes will be communicated through the Platform.