This is the second article in our 2026 Intersect committee elections series, with details on available seats, committee scope, and how to apply. 

Committee members are elected for a two-year term, but elections are held every year. That means that about half the members in each standing committee are up for election each year. This structure balances continuity with fresh perspectives, helping committees remain effective while still allowing new contributors to join and influence the ecosystem. You can read more details on this here.

Committees play such an important part in shaping how Cardano evolves.

Through this work, members help guide budget priorities, governance processes, technical direction, ecosystem growth, and community initiatives.

Standing for election is one of the most direct ways Intersect members can contribute to the future of the Cardano ecosystem.

Get to know the committees

As part of the application process, each committee will host both an X Space session and a Virtual Hub session between March 30 and April 17. These sessions are designed to give you a closer look at each committee’s work, their priorities, and what it means to be a member.

If you are considering applying but are unsure whether you have the right experience, these sessions are a good way to understand the expectations of the role and the kind of contributions committees are looking for.

Many current committee members joined after first attending these sessions and they’re also a great opportunity to engage directly with current members to ask questions, hear different perspectives, and better understand where your skills and interests might fit. Whether you’re still weighing your options or ready to apply, joining these sessions can help you make a more informed decision.

We'd love to see you there; come connect with the people behind each committee. You can explore all upcoming sessions and register through the Luma calendar here: https://luma.com/intersect-committee-elections 

Committees details

Intersect committees cover the main areas needed to support Cardano as a decentralized ecosystem, from governance and budgeting to technical development, community growth, and open source coordination.

There is more detailed information on the Intersect election process and committees on the Intersect Knowledge Base.

Seats are available in seven standing committees and the Intersect steering committee, as shown in the following table:

Committee scope

Committees have a valuable advisory role, each covering a specific area of Cardano’s governance and ecosystem development, as well as Intersect internal direction.

Through their work, committees help guide decisions, provide expert input, and support coordination across the community, contributors, and service providers.

Budget committee 

The Cardano budget committee brings together relevant stakeholders from within the Cardano ecosystem. Its purpose is to use the knowledge and observations of these individuals to provide guidance, support, and oversight for Cardano’s annual budget processes. 

Civics committee

The Cardano civics committee advises on governance processes and community engagement across the Cardano ecosystem. The committee develops frameworks for effective community participation in governance, coordinates with subject matter experts to ensure informed decision-making, and provides advisory support to the Cardano constitutional committee as needed. 

Growth and marketing committee

The growth and marketing committee is dedicated to recommending innovative and impactful marketing and ecosystem growth strategies. It is committed to attracting, empowering, and directing global marketing initiatives that promote the decentralization, growth, and widespread adoption of the Cardano ecosystem.

Membership and community committee

The Membership & Community Committee (MCC) improves the Intersect membership experience by growing participation, enhancing offerings, and supporting active engagement. It connects Intersect to the real world through regional onboarding, member visibility, and community programs that drive meaningful activity and impact.

Open source committee

Intersect’s open source committee fosters the development and evolution of Cardano as a community-led, decentralized open-source project. Its mission is to support Cardano’s growth through community-driven decision-making. By delivering essential tools, establishing clear policies, and providing expert guidance, it ensures Cardano remains adaptive, accessible, and positioned for long-term success. 

Product committee

The Cardano product committee is an advisory body looking at Cardano as a product (both the L1 and overall ecosystem).

This committee assists the community by facilitating an open and transparent creation and refinement of a shared vision and strategy, as well as a set of annual goals related to that.

Technical steering committee

The Technical Steering Committee (TSC) provides recommendations to ensure that decisions made either on-chain or off-chain for Cardano development are based upon sound technical awareness and best practices, in order to ensure the security and sustainability of Cardano.

The scope of the Technical Steering Committee is primarily focused on core infrastructure, including the Layer 1 protocol, critical tooling to support the operation of Cardano (including disaster recovery and chain following), and essential infrastructure to support Layer 2 development.

Intersect steering committee

The Intersect Steering Committee (ISC) brings together four elected representatives, the chair of each standing committee, and Functional Leads of Intersect.

ISC is a member-driven governing body that oversees all standing committees and overall Intersect governance. It enables effective collective decision-making and communication flows between the Intersect Board, committees, community representatives, and Functional Directors.