The European Commission has launched the 2026 call for the European Solidarity Corps, marking a double milestone: 30 years of EU volunteering and 10 years since the establishment of the Corps. With an increased budget of €175.3 million, the programme aims to continue empowering thousands of young people to engage in solidarity actions across Europe and globally. Since its creation in 2016, the European Solidarity Corps has provided transformative opportunities to over 150,000 young people through more than 22,000 projects in solidarity, humanitarian aid, and development cooperation. The 2026 programme will continue to support projects aligned with its four priorities: inclusion and diversity, environmental sustainability, digital transformation, and democratic participation.
In 2026, the Corps will maintain a strong focus on volunteering activities, solidarity projects, and networking actions, while providing quality and support measures such as training, evaluation cycles, IT tools, and Quality Label mechanisms for participating organisations. The centralised initiative, ‘Volunteering Teams in High-Priority Areas,’ will target three key priorities: enhancing preparedness and relief for people affected by conflicts or natural disasters, fostering learning and skill development for young people with fewer opportunities, and promoting intergenerational fairness and solidarity. These priorities align with the European Commission’s 2024–2029 political guidelines and emphasize the Corps’ role in fostering inclusion, resilience, and empathy across Europe.
Demand for volunteering opportunities continues to exceed available funding, with only one in ten registered young people currently able to participate. The increased budget, up 5.6% from 2025, seeks to expand access and ensure equitable opportunities across EU Member States and associated countries. The 2026 Work Programme will also continue global outreach through humanitarian aid volunteering, with a 17.7% increase in funds compared to the previous year.
Public and private organisations can apply for funding under the 2026 call, provided they hold a Quality Label that ensures compliance with programme standards. Applications can be submitted through National Agencies in EU Member States and associated countries, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, and Türkiye, or via the European Education and Culture Executive Agency for directly managed actions.
Launched in 2016, the European Solidarity Corps builds on a long EU tradition of youth volunteering and community engagement, connecting individuals aged 18 to 30 (up to 35 for humanitarian aid volunteering) with projects across Europe and beyond. With an indicative budget of €1.009 billion for 2021–2027, the Corps aims to support more than 185,000 young people in solidarity activities, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to community engagement and cross-border cooperation. The 2026 programme also celebrates 30 years since the EU’s first volunteering initiatives, which laid the foundation for the European Voluntary Service and ultimately the European Solidarity Corps.
