#BeActive-EU-SPORT-AWARDS – Physical activity

The BeActive EU Sport Awards 2026 Physical Activity category is an Erasmus+ EU prize to recognise organisations that have implemented activities promoting regular physical activity in education, workplaces, non-formal learning or local communities. The total call budget is €125,000 with €25,000 for this category (one winner €15,000 and two finalists €5,000 each); applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 17 September 2026, 17:00 CET. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States, EEA countries or Erasmus+ associated countries, activities must be implemented with tangible results at the time of application, and submissions will be evaluated by a jury on Relevance, Quality and Impact with an overall pass threshold of 60 points. Award results are expected in March 2027.

Call: #BeActive EU Sport Awards — Physical activity

Key facts

Prize to recognise sport activities that have promoted regular physical activity across schools, non-formal learning, workplaces or local communities, emphasising links to health and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Available budget:Total budget €125 000. In each of the five award categories one winner receives €15 000 and two finalists receive €5 000 each. ¹

1. 1Who can apply: legal entities (public or private bodies, including international organisations) established in eligible Erasmus+ countries; for the Volunteering category individuals aged 18+ may be awarded.
2. 2Eligible activities: implemented sport/physical activity initiatives with tangible results at time of application (not project ideas or undeveloped projects).
3. 3Deadline: 17 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
4. 4Submission: electronic only via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Apply through the topic page Call page.
5. 5Evaluation: pre-selection of up to 6 applications per category, then jury evaluation; winners announced March 2027.

Applicants must register in the Participant Register (PIC) and respect submission rules and page limits. Applications will be assessed on relevance, quality and impact; minimum overall score 60/100 required. Visit the call page for rules of contest and templates.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and rules of contest available at the official call page Call document.

Call title and basic facts

Call summary

Call:#BeActive EU Sport Awards – category Physical activity. Programme: Erasmus+ (2021-2027). Type of action: EU prize (ERASMUS Prizes). Call identifier: ERASMUS-SPORT. Submission channel: Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (online only). Call opens: 30 June 2026. Deadline: 17 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Evaluation period: September 2026–March 2027. Information to applicants expected March 2027.

Official call documents and contact:Full Rules of Contest and call fiche are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal; support enquiries should be sent to EACEA-SPORT@ec.europa.eu. The call documentation provides detailed rules on admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, award and post-award obligations Call document (Rules of Contest) ¹.

Scope and objectives

This category recognises sport activities implemented by organisations that have delivered significant, demonstrable results in promoting physical activity across education and training establishments, non-formal learning settings, workplaces or local communities. The award highlights initiatives that create opportunities for people of all ages to integrate movement into daily life, strengthen awareness of the link between regular physical activity and health, and contribute to prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It seeks to showcase best-practice initiatives that are implemented and deliver tangible results at the time of application.

Available funding and prizes

Total prize budget for the five categories of the #BeActive EU Sport Awards is €125,000. For each category (including Physical activity) the planned award distribution is: one winner awarded €15,000 and two finalists (ranked 2nd and 3rd) awarded €5,000 each. The awarding authority reserves the right not to award any prize if conditions or quality of applications do not justify it.

1. 1Total budget (all categories): €125,000
2. 2Per category: Winner €15,000; Finalists (2) €5,000 each

Who can apply and eligible activities

Eligible applicants:legal entities established in eligible countries (EU Member States including OCTs, EEA and countries associated to Erasmus+ or countries in negotiations whose association enters into force before the award decision). Natural persons are generally not eligible, except for the Volunteering category where individuals over 18 may receive the prize (the Physical activity category is for organisations). Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if representatives have capacity to undertake legal obligations. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a PIC before the call deadline.

Eligible activities:Only activities that have already been implemented and have tangible results at the time of application are eligible. Projects in development or without demonstrable results are not eligible. Activities can be national or transnational and do not need prior EU funding. Geographic scope of the activity must be within eligible Erasmus+ countries. Applications should focus on promotion of physical activity in schools, higher education, workplaces, clubs, communities and similar environments, with emphasis on health benefits and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Eligibility, exclusion and integrity requirements

Applicants must comply with EU ethical standards and applicable law, and respect fundamental EU values. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures, EU conditionality measures, or to exclusion decisions cannot participate. Other exclusion grounds include bankruptcy, fraud, serious professional misconduct, tax or social security breaches, and significant deficiencies under previous EU instruments. Applicants must not misrepresent information during the award procedure.

Application process, templates and required documents

Submission is electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are not accepted. Submission follows a single-stage model but the evaluation process includes pre-selection and jury evaluation stages.

1. 1Part A: Administrative data (to be filled in online in the Submission System).
2. 2Part B: Technical description. Use the mandatory template downloaded from the Submission System; complete, assemble and re-upload. Part B is limited to 20 pages; excess pages will be disregarded.
3. 3Annexes (optional): communication material only, up to 10 pages maximum, uploaded as PDF; use annexes to demonstrate impact, media coverage, photos, outputs, etc.

Joint applications by a group of applicants are allowed; in that case appoint a lead applicant (coordinator). The consortium must appoint a lead applicant who will represent the group; all applicants in a joint application are jointly responsible and must all fulfil eligibility and exclusion criteria. Applicants may be asked later to provide supporting documents for legal entity validation and bank account verification.

Evaluation and award procedure

Evaluation comprises a pre-selection phase to select the best six applications per category, followed by a jury evaluation. A jury of recognised experts assesses applications against award criteria. The awarding authority applies mandatory checks (legal entity validation, ethics review, non-exclusion, double funding) before deciding the award. Winners and finalists will be announced at an award ceremony and must promote the prize and acknowledge EU support.

1. 1Pre-selection: shortlist up to 6 applications per category.
2. 2Jury evaluation of shortlisted applications.
3. 3Mandatory administrative checks (ETHICS, LEAR/PIC validation, non-exclusion, double funding).
4. 4Award decision and communication to applicants (evaluation result letter).

Award criteria and scoring

Applications that pass admissibility and eligibility checks are evaluated using three award criteria: Relevance, Quality and Impact. Each criterion has an individual threshold; an overall pass threshold applies. Relevance (20-40 points), Quality (10-20 points), Impact (20-40 points). Overall pass score: 60/100. In case of ties, priority is given to higher Impact score, then Relevance.

Obligations of winners and post-award arrangements

Prize money is paid after the award ceremony upon submission of requested documents. If the winner is a group, payment will be made to the lead applicant. Winners and finalists must carry out communication and dissemination activities acknowledging EU funding and displaying the EU emblem and the funding statement. The awarding authority and the European Commission may use non-sensitive materials (images, audiovisual content) provided by winners for communication purposes. Checks and audits may be performed by the Commission, EACEA, OLAF, EPPO and the European Court of Auditors. The awarding authority may withdraw the prize and recover funds in cases of fraud, false information, ineligibility or serious breach of obligations.

Key administrative and timeline details

Structured extraction answers

The following fields extract and categorize the opportunity details in a structured manner.

Eligible Applicant Types:Legal entities (private or public bodies, registered organisations, associations, sport clubs, schools, universities, NGOs) established in eligible countries. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if representatives can assume legal obligations. Individuals (natural persons) are only eligible for the Volunteering category; the Physical activity category is intended for organisations.

Funding Type:Prize / Award (EU prize under Erasmus+), listed as ERASMUS Prizes (not a grant, loan or procurement).

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant or joint application allowed. Joint applications are admitted but must designate a lead applicant (coordinator) who will submit and represent the group. All members of a joint application remain jointly responsible; there is no prescribed minimum number of partners.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible countries: EU Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories), EEA countries and countries associated to Erasmus+; countries negotiating association may participate provided the association enters into force before the award decision. Activities must take place in eligible countries.

Target Sector:Sport and physical activity with cross-cutting links to health promotion, prevention of cardiovascular disease, education, workplaces, community development, social inclusion and volunteering. Thematic focus: physical activity promotion within education and training, non-formal learning, workplaces and local communities.

Mentioned Countries:Explicit country listing is by eligible country groups rather than named individual states. The text references: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories), EEA countries, and countries associated to Erasmus+ or negotiating association. No specific single country is singled out in the category description.

Project Stage:Implemented projects with tangible results. The competition requires activities to have been executed and to have measurable outcomes at time of application; development-stage or unimplemented projects are ineligible. Typical maturity: demonstration/implementation with proven results and potential replicability.

Funding Amount:Category-level funding: €25,000 per category (one winner €15,000; two finalists €5,000 each). Overall call budget: €125,000 across five categories.

Application Type:Open call (public contest) launched on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission is single-stage (one submission deadline) via the Portal’s Electronic Submission System. Applicants must register (EU Login and Participant Register) prior to submission.

Nature of Support:Monetary award (prize money) to winners and finalists; additionally non-monetary support in the form of visibility, dissemination and promotion by the Commission/Awarding Authority. Payment is conditional on post-award administrative checks and submission of requested documents.

Application Stages:Submission (single-stage) followed by two main evaluation stages: pre-selection (shortlist up to 6 per category) and jury evaluation (final ranking). Mandatory administrative checks follow jury decision before award. In practical terms applicants face: 1) submission, 2) pre-selection, 3) jury evaluation and mandatory checks, 4) award/ceremony (4 stages including checks).

Success Rates:The call does not publish historic overall success rates. The process indicates a pre-selection of up to six applications per category and award of three prizes per category (1 winner + 2 finalists). From the shortlisted pool the nominal success rate is up to 50% (3 awarded out of 6 shortlisted). Overall success rate from all submissions depends on the total number of applications received and is not specified in the call documentation.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding is required to receive the prize. The prize is an award; applicants do not need to provide co-financing for the award itself. However, applicants must ensure compliance with rules on double funding (activities already financed by EU funds cannot receive another EU prize for the same activities).

Templates and application form structure:Applications are composed and submitted through the Portal’s Submission System in three parts: Part A (administrative data entered directly online), Part B (technical description using the mandatory template downloaded from the Submission System; must be uploaded as PDF and is limited to 20 pages) and Annexes (optional communication material, up to 10 pages). Part B template and detailed page/format instructions are available only inside the Submission System. Applicants must ensure readability, accessibility and printable formatting; evaluators will disregard excess pages beyond limits.

Evaluation logistics and award criteria checklist

Applications will be checked for admissibility and eligibility first. If admissible, they undergo pre-selection then jury evaluation against the three award criteria. Applicants must pass individual thresholds for each criterion and the overall threshold to be considered for the prize. Tie-breaking gives precedence to Impact then Relevance.

1. 1Admissibility checks: submission before deadline, required documents uploaded, Part B within page limit.
2. 2Eligibility checks: legal status, country of establishment, activities implemented with tangible results, PIC and LEAR validation.
3. 3Pre-selection: shortlist up to 6 per category.
4. 4Jury assessment: scoring by Relevance, Quality and Impact.
5. 5Mandatory administrative/ethical checks: legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding, ethics.
6. 6Award decision and publication; prize payment after ceremony and upon submission of requested documents.

Risks, restrictions and important compliance points

Applicants must respect EU values and legal requirements, avoid any double funding, and ensure correct legal entity validation and PIC registration prior to submission. Entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures are ineligible. Applications that misrepresent required information, or whose members are subject to exclusion grounds, will be rejected or prize payments recovered. Winners must respect communication and visibility rules and include the funding statement and EU emblem as required.

Concluding summary

This opportunity is an EU prize competition under Erasmus+ (the #BeActive EU Sport Awards) to reward outstanding implemented initiatives that promote physical activity in educational settings, non-formal learning environments, workplaces or local communities with demonstrated results. It targets organisations established in EU Member States and eligible associated countries. The award offers visibility and monetary prizes (per-category winner €15,000; two finalists €5,000 each) and requires applicants to submit a concise application through the Funding & Tenders Portal, using Part A (online), Part B (20-page template) and optional annexes (10 pages). The process is competitive: applications are pre-selected (up to 6 per category) and then scored by a jury against relevance, quality and impact criteria; winners must comply with administrative, legal and ethical checks before payment. The call is open from 30 June 2026, with a single-stage submission deadline on 17 September 2026 and evaluation concluding in March 2027. This award is aimed at celebrating and disseminating replicable, impactful sport and physical activity initiatives that contribute to healthier societies and prevention of cardiovascular disease, by giving winners visibility and a cash prize to support dissemination and scaling of good practice ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, Rules of Contest and call fiche are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and include full eligibility, evaluation and submission instructions: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity Summary and Key Facts

The #BeActive-EU-SPORT-AWARDS – Physical activity is an Erasmus+ EU Prize call designed to recognize organizations that have significantly promoted physical activity in education, workplaces, non-formal learning environments, or local communities across Europe ¹. The total budget for the entire call (all five categories) is €125,000, with €25,000 allocated specifically to the Physical Activity category ².

Prize Amounts:In the Physical Activity category, one winner receives €15,000, and two finalists (ranked 2nd and 3rd) receive €5,000 each ³.

Who Should Apply

Eligible applicants are legal entities (private or public bodies, including international organizations) established in EU Member States, OCTs, EEA countries, or Erasmus+ associated countries ⁴. Individuals (natural persons over 18) are NOT eligible for the Physical Activity category; they are only eligible for the Volunteering category ⁵.

1. 1Organizations active in schools, universities, or educational establishments
2. 2Workplaces and enterprises promoting employee movement
3. 3Local community associations and sport clubs
4. 4Non-formal learning environment providers

Eligibility and Activity Requirements

Activities must have been successfully implemented with tangible results at the time of application; projects still in the development phase are not eligible ⁶. The initiative must demonstrate a clear link between regular physical activity and health, with a specific emphasis on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases ⁷.

Evaluation Criteria and Timeline

Applications are evaluated by a Jury based on three criteria:Relevance (max 40 points), Quality (max 20 points), and Impact (max 40 points), with a total threshold of 60 points required to pass ⁸. The call opens on 30 June 2026, with a submission deadline of 17 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time) ⁹.

1. 1Evaluation period: September 2026 – March 2027
2. 2Award results announced: March 2027
3. 3Award ceremony: To be held after results announcement

How to Submit and Important Conditions

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; paper submissions are not accepted ¹⁰. Applicants must register in the Participant Register before the deadline to obtain a PIC (Participant Identification Code) ¹¹. Winners must acknowledge EU support and display the European flag and funding statement in all communication activities ¹².

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call Document (Rules of Contest) V1.0, Section 2: Objectives, Categories and Expected Results ERASMUS+ Call Document.
2. 2Official Call Document, Section 3: Available budget ERASMUS+ Call Document.
3. 3Official Call Document, Section 3: Available budget ERASMUS+ Call Document.
4. 4Official Call Document, Section 6: Eligibility – Eligible participants (eligible countries) ERASMUS+ Call Document.
5. 5Official Call Document, Section 6: Eligibility – Footnote 5 regarding individuals ERASMUS+ Call Document.
6. 6Official Call Document, Section 6: Eligibility – Eligible activities ERASMUS+ Call Document.
7. 7Official Call Document, Section 2: Objectives – Physical activity category description ERASMUS+ Call Document.
8. 8Official Call Document, Section 9: Award criteria – Table of Award criteria and thresholds ERASMUS+ Call Document.
9. 9Official Call Document, Section 4: Timetable and deadlines ERASMUS+ Call Document.
10. 10Official Call Document, Section 5: Admissibility and documents ERASMUS+ Call Document.
11. 11Official Call Document, Section 11: How to submit an application – Registration requirements ERASMUS+ Call Document.
12. 12Official Call Document, Section 10: Other conditions – Communication, Dissemination, Visibility of funding ERASMUS+ Call Document.