The 1st Parliament of the World’s Religions, hosted at the historic World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, brought together people of faith from around the world. Some like Anagārika Dharmapāla, A.G. Bonet-Maury, and Swami Vivekananda traveled for months and across continents to serve as representatives of their faiths, and many more journeyed over weeks, through countries, and across oceans to attend what would become the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement.
The 8th Parliament of the World’s Religions, hosted for the first time virtually, will bring together people of faith from around the world in an instant. The virtual Parliament is a safe way to gather the world’s global interfaith movement and celebrate the enduring spirit and work of religious and spiritual communities striving toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.
What: The 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions
When: October 17 - 18, 2021
Where: Virtually Around the World
How: Register Today
Why Virtual?
When the Site Committee began the scoping of the 8th Parliament of the World’s Religions after the Toronto Parliament, its members never imagined what our communities would be facing in the form of COVID-19. In response to established safety standards, the Parliament joined interfaith and interreligious organizations across the globe in utilizing our diversity of beliefs and practices and committed to serving as a convener of the interfaith movement, virtually, to continue working together for a world-wide community that embraces love, compassion, justice, and peace during this on-going global crisis.
So why host the 8th Parliament of the World’s Religions Virtually?
The Parliament is committed to being a safe space for people of faith to come together; both mentally and physically. During the ongoing pandemic, we could not guarantee this safety in a physical event and the Parliament convening is too important to put off. There is no better time than 2021 to bring people of diverse faith and spirituality together to bring about a better world.
The second and perhaps most important reason to go virtual for this year’s Parliament is the advantages of a virtual platform. Since 1893, each Parliament has striven to be more inclusive than the last. By allowing attendants to come to the Parliament through the click of a button in their homes and offices around the world, we bring voices that may not have ever had a chance to come before. Think of the possibilities! For the first time, the Parliament could include tours of sacred places from all around the globe. We believe that all Parliaments in the future will include some virtual element to them, even when we return to meeting in a city conference center. This is just the beginning!
Register Today!
Registration for the 2021 Parliament of the World's Religions is now open. Enjoy access to our lowest rates by taking advantage of the Super Saver Rate, only available through May 31!
General Admission
Super Saver
Available till May 31st at 11:59 PM (UTC -5)
$50 USD
Early Bird
June 1st - August 31st at 11:59 PM (UTC -5)
$75 USD
Regular
Begins on September 1st at 12:00 AM (UTC -5)
$90 USD
Student Admission
Regular
With valid Student ID
$10 USD
What Kinds of Speakers Come to the Parliament?
Since marking the 100-year anniversary of the birth of the interfaith movement in 1993, Parliaments are known to connect local activism network leaders, religious leaders, as well as luminaries like Nobel Laureates and others which have included Nelson Mandela, HH the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, President Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Queen Noor of Jordan, Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr. Karen Armstrong, Swami Vivekananda*, Rabbi David Saperstein, Eboo Patel, Margaret Atwood, Marianne Williamson, Bishop William Barber, Dr. Hans Kung, Deepak Chopra, and Amma the Hugging Saint, to name a few.
The 2021 Parliament provides all participants a unique opportunity to connect with leaders from around the world who might not have been able to participate, otherwise. Check back in the upcoming months for updates on participating speakers.
Advertising, Exhibitors & Sponsorships
The 2021 Parliament of the World's Religions provides a cost-effective way to maximize your organization’s exposure to thousands of participants from 80 different countries and over 50 faith and spiritual traditions. Leaders in their communities, our participants are multi-generational, media-savvy, and culturally aware. Your organization will gain exposure not only as part of the virtual platform, but also to tens of thousands more through visibility on the Parliament website, social media channels, and associated marketing materials.
The virtual platform of the 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions provides outstanding opportunities for multiple and highly prominent impressions of your brand - and your commitment to bringing persons of faith and conscience together to build peace, justice, and sustainability in today’s world.
Let the world see who you are and what matters to you.
Reach socially conscious, open-minded, and connected persons by hosting a booth in our virtual Exhibit Hall. Your booth will let you reach participants with one-on-one, personal conversations that build relationships.
Build Recognition and Authority
Call to Action
Exhibitor booths in the virtual event platform are a virtual space for your organization with customizable elements such as logo, banner image, links, documents, media, interest/action button, and your ability to interact as your booth's representative.
One of the main reasons why exhibitors join events is to connect with potential leads or customers and expand their professional and social networks. In a virtual event scenario, there are a few ways that you can maximize that opportunity as an exhibitor through lead retrieval functions.
Interested in custom sponsorships, sponsoring a networking session, lounge, or private session, sponsoring a track, or other types of sponsorship?
Contact Emma Pittsley, Parliament Development Associate
Sponsorship
Standard$1,000 Early Bird $2,000 after August | Prime$2,000 Early Bird $4,000 after August | Platinum$5,000 Early Bird $10,000 after August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo on Parliament website | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Logo + Link on event platform | Small | Medium | Large |
| Exhibit booth | Standard Booth | Prime Booth | Platinum Booth |
| Featured in lobby carousel | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Promoted on social media | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Featured as main stage sponsor | ✓ | ||
| Video during break | ✓ |
Exhibit Booths
Standard$550 Early Bird $1,100 after August | Prime$950 Early Bird $1,900 after August | Platinum$2,000 Early Bird $4,000 after August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booth in exhibit hall | Small | Medium | Large |
| Event registrations | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Meeting schedule button | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live chat and polls | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Indicated as a prime booth | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Livestream video in booth | ✓ | ||
| Featured in expo carousel | ✓ |
Programs at the 2021 Parliament
The 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions will be the eighth convening and the first time that it will be hosted virtually. Recognized as the birthplace of the modern interfaith movement, the 1893 Parliament made history with its groundbreaking interreligious dialogues among leaders of Eastern and Western religious traditions, fostering understanding, cooperation and social harmony. Since 1893, six more Parliaments have been hosted in the United States, South Africa, Spain, Canada and Australia; attended by tens of thousands of people from around the world.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions invites proposals for programs, presentations and religious observances at the 2021 Parliament of the World’s Religions, to be held virtually, October 17-18. The theme of the 2021 Parliament is Opening our Hearts to the World: Compassion in Action.
Programming for the 2021 Parliament will focus largely, but not exclusively, on:
The broad critical issues of our mission statement: Justice, Peace, and Sustainability including Climate Action
Our critical constituencies: Indigenous Peoples, Next Generations, and Women and Girls
The signature document of the Parliament of the World's Religions, Declaration Toward a Global Ethic
Programs will also be welcomed focused on additional issues and identities.
All interested attendees are welcomed and encouraged to register and submit a program proposal by the due dates noted in this Call for Programs.
Program types may include but are not limited to any of the following:
Panel discussion
Lecture or oral presentation
Academic paper
Seminar
Religious or spiritual observance
Workshop
Training session
Art, music, and performances
Film
Regular programs will be 45 minutes in length.
Volunteer with the Parliament
The 8th Parliament of the World's Religions is gathering virtually for the first time in its history. Volunteers are needed starting immediately to assist now and during the event.
Please email miriam@parliamentofreligions.org with a copy of your latest resume and your availability to volunteer. Please note that this is just the first step in the process, this does not guarantee that you will be approved as a Parliament volunteer.
Join the Countdown!
Sponsors of the 2021 Parliament
