Erasmus+ 2026 Program Guide is now available

With a budget of around €5.2 billion for 2026, Erasmus+ continues to invest strongly in mobility, cooperation and innovation in education, training, youth and sport.

What’s new in 2026? Key challenges for project design: While the overall structure of Erasmus+ remains familiar, the 2026 Guide sharpens several priorities compared to 2025. Here are some of the most relevant updates and challenges for applicants:

• Micro-credentials and flexible learning pathways - Micro-credentials are clearly promoted as short, high-quality, stackable learning units that support flexible and lifelong learning, particularly in VET and adult education. The Guide encourages providers to design transparent, quality-assured micro-credentials aligned with the EU Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials.

• Girls in STEM: from awareness to measurable impact - STEM-related projects are invited to show baseline data, targeted interventions and clear monitoring tools to support girls’ participation and success in STEM pathways.

• Greener mobility under 500 km - For distances under 500 km, low-carbon travel becomes the default. The choice of transport now impacts quality scoring, not only budget lines.

• Inclusion and diversity: stronger requirements - Inclusion of participants with fewer opportunities is further reinforced in the evaluation criteria and higher expectations in outreach strategies, tailored support and accessibility.:

• Mental health and wellbeing made explicit - Wellbeing is now clearly highlighted, especially in school education and VET. requiring concrete tools, activities and indicators.

• New KA2 action: EPSD - A major novelty of 2026 is the introduction of European Partnerships for School Development, designed to help schools embed international activities into their everyday work, develop “mobility windows”, and build stable networks around basic skills, participation and democratic values.

• Stronger link to EU skills and preparedness strategies - The Guide now connects more explicitly to the Union of Skills and Preparedness Union Strategy: projects aligned with green/digital transitions and crisis-responsive learning systems are strongly encouraged.

In short: priorities remain stable, but expectations are higher—especially for mental health, inclusion, gender equality in STEM, green mobility, and skills-based learning.

Key Erasmus+ 2026 deadlines: Below is the overview of key deadlines. For full details, please refer to the official Call for Proposals and Program Guide.

Key Action 1 – Learning mobility of individuals

• 12 February 2026 – Mobility of individuals in the field of youth

• 19 February 2026 – Mobility of individuals in

  • higher education

  • vocational education and training (VET)

  • school education

  • adult education

  • international mobility with third countries not associated to the Programme

• 26 March 2026 – Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges

• 1 October 2026 – Second-round deadline for youth mobility projects

• 29 September 2026 – Erasmus accreditations in VET, school and adult education; Erasmus accreditations in the field of youth

Key Action 2 – Cooperation among organizations and institutions

• 5 March 2026 –

  • Cooperation Partnerships in education, training and youth (KA220)

  • Small-scale Partnerships in school education, VET, adult education and youth (KA210)

  • Partnerships for cooperation in the field of sport

• 9 April 2026 – European School Development Partnerships (new action)

• 3 September 2026 – Centres of Vocational Excellence

Additional sector-specific deadlines – including sport and large-scale events – are available in the official documentation.