Young people aged 16 to 30, residing in an EU Member State and working on projects that strengthen democracy, promote active citizenship and bring communities closer together, are invited to apply for the European Charlemagne Youth Prize (ECYP) 2026.
The prize is awarded annually to youth-led initiatives that highlight the role of young people in shaping a shared European identity and creating a lasting impact on Europe’s future. Representatives of the 27 national winning projects will be invited to the award ceremony in Aachen, Germany, where the three European winners will be announced.
The prizes amount to €7,500 for first place, €5,000 for second place, and €2,500 for third place. Winners will also be invited to visit the European Parliament.
The application deadline is 2 February at midnight (CET).
Eligibility criteria:
- Aged between 16 and 30
- Resident of an EU Member State
- Submission of a European project, either individually or on behalf of a youth group or organisation
All submitted projects will first be assessed by national juries, which will select one national winner per country. From these, the European jury will choose the top three projects.
The prize is jointly organised by the European Parliament and the International Charlemagne Prize Foundation.
