Creative Europe 2026 Unveils New Measures to Strengthen Cultural Resilience, Rural Innovation and Cross-Border Performing Arts
The European Commission has released the 2026 Annual Work Programme of Creative Europe, introducing a set of strategic new actions aimed at reinforcing the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) across the continent. The programme places a strong emphasis on youth, territorial cohesion, digital transformation and democratic resilience, while deepening support for mobility, artistic cooperation and international circulation.
Among this year’s most notable additions is the Cultural and Creative Sectors’ Rural Policy Project, a new initiative designed to address the specific challenges faced by cultural workers and organisations in rural and remote areas. The project aims to generate shared policy responses, foster collaboration across territories, and strengthen the role of young cultural professionals as key drivers of innovation outside major urban centres. With Europe facing growing demographic divides and uneven cultural infrastructure, this action signals a meaningful shift towards more geographically inclusive cultural policies.
Another major development is the launch of Perform Europe III (2026–2027), the next iteration of the EU’s flagship support scheme for cross-border touring and distribution in the performing arts. A new call will select the consortium responsible for managing this phase, building on the success of previous editions. Perform Europe III will continue to promote sustainable, inclusive and innovative touring models, encouraging partnerships between producers and presenters across Europe and widening audience access to diverse performing arts works.
Beyond these headline initiatives, the 2026 programme consolidates Creative Europe’s wider mission under the new European Commission mandate, with a consistent focus on AI-readiness, environmental sustainability, fair working conditions and stronger support for Ukraine’s cultural ecosystem. Recurrent schemes—such as European Cooperation Projects and the circulation of literary works—are maintained with refinements that reinforce linguistic diversity, risk-taking and greener editorial practices.
With these new actions, Creative Europe 2026 aims to empower cultural actors across all regions, support the next generation of professionals, and ensure the continued vitality, diversity and mobility of European arts and culture in an era of profound transformation.
More details will be published soon on the Funding & Tender Portal, so stay tuned!
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