Creative EurCreative Europe 2026 calls: open funding opportunities (updated March 2026)

The Creative Europe 2026 programme continues to strengthen the European cultural and creative sector with a broad range of open calls for 2026. These opportunities support audiovisual production, cultural innovation, video-game development, literature, journalism, and the performing arts.

Through Kaila, the European innovation and funding platform, you can now explore all the active Creative Europe 2026 calls, including objectives, deadlines, and funding types.

Update – March 2026
The Creative Europe 2026 calls have been updated to reflect the latest funding opportunities currently open under the programme. Several calls published earlier in the cycle have already closed, while new opportunities for audiovisual professionals, film distribution and cinema networks are now available. The table below summarises the calls that remain open or forthcoming according to the latest data available through Kaila

Below we review the main open lines of the programme, grouped by area: MEDIA, CULTURE and CROSS-SECTORAL.

Open Creative Europe 2026 calls (March 2026)

Call	Topic	Deadline
CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING	Skills and Talent Development	16 April 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-VODNET	European VOD networks and operators	8 April 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-FESTNET	Networks of European Festivals	14 April 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMDIST	European Film Distribution	23 April 2026
CREA-CROSS-2026-INNOVLAB	Creative Innovation Lab	23 April 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-1	TV and online content – Animation	7 May 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-2	TV and online content – Documentary	7 May 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-3	TV and online content – Fiction	7 May 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMSALES	European Film sales agents	18 June 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-CINNET	Networks of European Cinemas	9 July 2026
CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVMINISLATE	European mini-slate development	17 September 2026

All detailed information is available at kailatest.net/, where you can explore every open line and access the official documentation.

MEDIA skills and industry support

Skills and Talent Development (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TRAINING)

Among the current Creative Europe 2026 calls, this action is especially relevant for organisations focused on professional capacity building. Its objective is to help audiovisual professionals adapt to new creative processes, market developments, and digital technologies that affect the full value chain.

Funded activities may include training on virtual production, post-production, audience engagement, data analytics, intellectual property exploitation, videogame production tools, and sustainability practices such as the use of green consultants and CO2 measurement tools. The call places strong emphasis on combining creative and digital capabilities while supporting the sector’s digital and environmental transition. Deadline: 16 April 2026.

Distribution and circulation of European works

European VOD networks and operators (CREA-MEDIA-2026-VODNET)

This call supports European video-on-demand platforms that offer a significant proportion of non-national European works. The aim is to improve their competitiveness and attractiveness through cross-border collaboration and joint actions.

Projects should help to increase the visibility, discoverability, accessibility, and online consumption of European audiovisual content, while also encouraging new business models and wider audience reach. The call also highlights sustainability, inclusion, diversity, and gender balance. Deadline: 8 April 2026.

European Film Distribution (CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMDIST)

This scheme aims to improve the transnational distribution of recent non-national European films. It operates in two phases: first, companies generate a potential fund based on their performance on the European market; second, that fund must be reinvested in co-production, acquisition of distribution rights, and promotion, marketing, and advertising for theatrical and online releases.

The broader objective is to increase investment in the distribution of European films and strengthen the connection between production and distribution across Europe. Deadline: 23 April 2026.

European Film sales agent (CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMSALES)

This forthcoming call also supports the transnational circulation of recent non-national European films, but it is specifically addressed to film sales agents. It follows a similar two-phase structure based on the generation of a potential fund and its reinvestment.

Eligible reinvestment may cover minimum guarantees or advances for international sales rights, as well as promotion, marketing, and advertising activities for eligible European films. The action is designed to reinforce the market reach and international visibility of European productions. Deadline: 18 June 2026.

Films on the Move (CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMOVE)

Films on the Move supports the wider distribution of recent non-national European films by encouraging sales agents and theatrical distributors to invest in promotion and circulation.

The funded activities are campaigns for the pan-European theatrical and/or online distribution of eligible films, coordinated by the film’s sales agent. Expected results include stronger cross-border distribution strategies, increased promotional investment, wider audience reach, and better links between production and distribution. Deadlines: 19 March 2026 and 16 July 2026.

Cinema, festivals and exhibition networks

Networks of European Festivals (CREA-MEDIA-2026-FESTNET)

This action supports collaborative activities between European audiovisual festivals. Its purpose is to increase audience interest in non-national European audiovisual content, including video games and immersive content, while promoting circulation and visibility.

The expected results include stronger cooperation among festival members, better exchange of knowledge and best practices, audience renewal, and greater use of digital tools and applications. This makes the call particularly relevant for festival networks seeking joint strategies to expand audiences and strengthen the position of European content. Deadline: 14 April 2026.

Networks of European Cinemas (CREA-MEDIA-2026-CINNET)

This forthcoming call supports the creation and operation of a network of European cinemas screening a significant proportion of non-national European films.

Its objective is to encourage cinemas to work together through incentives and collaborative projects that increase audiences for European works, especially among younger viewers. It also supports the adaptation of cinemas to changing market conditions through innovation, audience engagement, partnerships with cultural institutions, and knowledge sharing across borders. Sustainability, inclusion, and renewed cinema-going experiences are central to the action. Deadline: 9 July 2026.

Development of audiovisual projects

European mini-slate development (CREA-MEDIA-2026-DEVMINISLATE)

This forthcoming call is aimed at independent European production companies developing a small portfolio of projects. It supports the development of two to three audiovisual works, which may include fiction, animation, or creative documentary, and may also include an optional short film by emerging talent.

The objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of production companies, reduce risk, attract talent, and increase the potential for European and international circulation. The call also values marketing and distribution strategies from the early stages of development, alongside sustainability, inclusion, and diversity. Deadline: 17 September 2026.

TV and online content

TV and online content – Fiction projects (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-3)

This call supports fiction works intended for linear and non-linear broadcasting, including digital platforms. Its objective is to increase the capacity of European audiovisual producers to develop and produce strong projects with international circulation potential and to facilitate European and international co-productions.

The action promotes collaboration between independent producers, broadcasters, digital platforms, and sales agents from different countries participating in the MEDIA strand. Projects are expected to combine creative quality, cross-border potential, innovative approaches to content and financing, and sustainable production practices. Next deadline: 7 May 2026.

TV and online content – Documentary projects (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-2)

The documentary strand follows the same overall objective as the other TV and online content calls: to strengthen the production of high-quality European works for television and digital distribution, while supporting cooperation across borders.

Documentary projects funded under this call must demonstrate strong creative and artistic value, wide exploitation potential, and innovative connections between content, financing, and distribution strategy. Sustainability, inclusion, and representativeness are also part of the expected project approach. Next deadline: 7 May 2026.

TV and online content – Animation projects (CREA-MEDIA-2026-TVONLINE-1)

This animation-focused call also supports projects intended for television broadcasting and online exploitation. It aims to strengthen the capacity of producers to develop and produce ambitious animation works with international audience potential.

As in the other two strands, the call encourages cooperation between operators from different countries and values innovative content, strong financing strategies, cross-border circulation potential, and environmentally responsible production methods. Next deadline: 7 May 2026.

Cross-sector innovation

Creative Innovation Lab (CREA-CROSS-2026-INNOVLAB)

The Creative Innovation Lab supports innovative tools, models, and solutions that connect the audiovisual sector with at least one other cultural field, namely music, books, or museums.

The call is designed to improve competitiveness, visibility, discoverability, circulation, and audience reach for European content, while also supporting environmental transition and adaptation to developments such as artificial intelligence and virtual worlds. Eligible projects may focus on virtual worlds, AI-enabled business tools, data analysis, rights management, monetisation, or greener practices. Cross-sector cooperation is at the core of this action. Deadline: 23 April 2026.

The Creative Europe 2026 calls currently open show a clear concentration on audiovisual skills, content circulation, exhibition networks, and innovation. For organisations active in these areas, March to September 2026 will be a key period to identify suitable funding opportunities and prepare competitive applications.