EFFEA Call #5. EFFEA Call #5 is Open: European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists

Applications are now open for the European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) Call #5. From 1 September to 3 November 2026, festivals can apply for funding to support emerging artists across borders through residencies taking place in 2027.

EFFEA will support around 50 residencies, bringing together at least 150 festivals to empower emerging artists in developing their work, reaching new audiences, and building international connections.

Residency Formats and Funding:

• 1. EFFEA Discovery (40 grants of €8,000): For artists at the early stages of their careers with strong potential for an international breakthrough.

  • One work-in-progress presentation or production result at the leading festival.

  • One workshop hosted by the leading festival with programmers from partner festivals.

  • One EFFEA residency film and participation in intake/outtake seminars.

• 2. EFFEA Springboard (10 grants of €15,000): For artists established in their home countries who are ready to develop internationally.

  • At least three presentations across the leading and partner festivals.

  • At least three live masterclasses led by the artist in three different countries.

  • One EFFEA residency film and participation in intake/outtake seminars.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Partnership Structure: Must bring together at least three festivals from three eligible countries (1 leading festival + at least 2 partner festivals).

• Festivals Requirements: Must have organized at least one festival edition and be registered on FestivalFinder.eu prior to applying.

• Artists: Individual artists, collectives, ensembles, or companies of any age, legally residing in an eligible country.

• Eligible Countries (Leading Festivals & Artists): Armenia, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Moldova, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, and Ukraine. (Festivals from Israel, Palestine, Switzerland, Turkey, and the UK may join as partner festivals only).

• Disciplines: Architecture, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Circus, Design/Applied Arts, Digital Arts, Film, Folklore, Heritage, Interdisciplinary, Literature, Music, Opera, Street Art, Theatre, Photography/Video, Puppetry, Sculpture, and Painting.

Online Info, Networking & Q&A Sessions:

• 15.09.2026 - Info Session #1

• 29.09.2026 - Networking Session #2

• 13.10.2026 - Networking Session #3

• 20.10.2026 - Q&A Session #4

  (All sessions run on Tuesdays from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST)

⏰ Application Deadline: 3 November 2026 (submitted online by the leading festival).

🔗 For full guidelines, criteria, and application templates, visit:

effea.eu/news/item/2026/09/01/effea-call-5-is-open