#BeActive-EU-SPORT-AWARDS-Volunteering

The #BeActive EU Sport Awards — Volunteering is an Erasmus+ prize recognising implemented sport activities by organisations or individuals that demonstrably promote volunteering, community engagement, inclusion and sport development. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States, EEA or Erasmus+ associated countries, and individuals over 18 may be awarded in the Volunteering category; activities must have tangible results at the time of application. The total prize budget is €125,000 across five categories, with €15,000 for each category winner and €5,000 for each of two finalists, payable after the award ceremony subject to mandatory checks. The call opens 30 June 2026 and applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 17 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time using the required Part A and Part B templates and page limits.

Opportunity type and deadline

Call for a prize (ERASMUS-SPORT-2026-EU-AWARDS-VOLUNTEERING)

This is an EU prize under Erasmus+ to recognise outstanding sport activities implemented by organisations and/or individuals through volunteer work. Submission is electronic via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Deadline: 17 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Apply via the portal topic page Topic page.

What it funds:Recognition prizes for initiatives or individuals whose volunteer activities have had clear positive impact on community engagement, inclusivity and the development of sport at local, national or transnational level ¹.

1. 1Eligible applicants: legal entities established in eligible Erasmus+ countries; for the Volunteering category individuals (natural persons) over 18 may be awarded. Applicants must be registered in the Participant Register and meet exclusion rules.
2. 2Scope: implemented activities with tangible results (not projects still in development); may be national or transnational but must have demonstrable impact.
3. 3Submission: single-stage; complete application parts A and B and allowed annexes via the Electronic Submission System.

Five award categories are open (Physical activity, Inclusion, Volunteering, Across generations, Peace). This entry covers the Volunteering category only. Pre-selection and jury evaluation will select a winner and two finalists per category; awards paid after the ceremony subject to required documents.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call rules, eligibility details, timetables and submission instructions are in the call document and topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal Call document.

Opportunity snapshot

Call title:#BeActive EU Sport Awards. Topic: Volunteering. Type: Call for a prize (EU prize) under the Erasmus+ Programme. Publication date: 25 June 2026. Call opening: 30 June 2026. Deadline for submission: 17 September 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). Submission method: single-stage, electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Managing authority: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

Primary purpose and scope:This prize aims to recognise sport activities implemented by organisations and/or individuals that have made outstanding contributions to sport through volunteer work, highlighting dedication, leadership, community engagement, inclusivity and development of sport at all levels ¹.

Detailed eligibility and applicant types

Eligible applicant types and parties that may participate in this topic

1. 1Legal entities established in eligible countries: private or public bodies, including international organisations. This includes sport clubs, non-profit organisations, associations, schools, universities, enterprises, and public authorities where allowed.
2. 2Individuals (natural persons) are eligible only for the Volunteering category (must be over 18). The prize may be awarded to an individual, but the applicant still must fulfil other eligibility conditions where applicable.
3. 3Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate provided their representatives have capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf and offer equivalent guarantees.
4. 4Joint applications are permitted (groups of applicants). In joint applications a lead applicant (coordinator) must be appointed; all partners are jointly responsible and must meet eligibility requirements.

Notes on excluded applicants and restrictive measures

Entities subject to EU exclusion decisions, restrictive measures, or conditionality measures (e.g. sanctions lists, EU Financial Regulation exclusions) are not eligible. Applicants in bankruptcy, guilty of serious misconduct, fraud, corruption, or other exclusion situations listed in the Rules of Contest cannot participate.

Geographic eligibility and beneficiary scope

Eligible countries and geographic scope

Applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries under Erasmus+. This includes: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories) and non-EU countries listed as EEA countries and countries associated to the Erasmus+ Programme. Applicants from countries negotiating association agreements may participate provided the agreement enters into force before the award decision. Activities must relate to activities implemented in eligible countries.

Mentioned countries:No individual third countries are explicitly named in the call text. The call refers to EU Member States and non-EU countries associated to Erasmus+ (EEA and associated countries).

Target sectors and thematic focus

Primary sector:sport and physical activity. Secondary thematic priorities: volunteering in sport, community engagement, inclusion, inter-generational activities, peace-building through sport, health promotion (prevention of non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular health) and promotion of EU values (human dignity, equality, non-discrimination). Cross-cutting priorities in the call include digital agenda and AI.

Project maturity and activities eligible

Eligible projects/activities must be already implemented and have tangible results at the time of application. Ongoing or recurrent activities are eligible if results already achieved are described. Activities still in development without implementation are NOT eligible. The expected maturity is implementation/demonstration — completed or running actions with measurable outcomes.

Funding, prize amounts and budget

Total prize budget for the #BeActive EU Sport Awards 2026 is €125,000 allocated across five categories. For each of the five categories (Physical activity, Inclusion, Volunteering, Across generations, Peace) the prizes are distributed as follows: one winner receives €15,000 and two finalists (ranked 2nd and 3rd) receive €5,000 each. Payment is made after the award ceremony contingent on submission of requested documents. The awarding authority reserves the right not to award prizes depending on applications received and evaluation results.

Application process and templates

Submission method and required documents

1. 1All applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System. Paper submissions are NOT accepted.
2. 2Applicants must register in the Participant Register before the call deadline (obtain a PIC).
3. 3Application parts: Part A (administrative data) to be filled directly online; Part B (technical description) must be downloaded as the mandatory template from the Submission System, completed, converted and uploaded in PDF; Annexes and supporting documents (optional communication material only, up to 10 pages maximum) uploaded as PDFs.
4. 4Layout and page limits: Part B is limited to a maximum of 20 pages. Annexes (communication material) maximum 10 pages. Uploaded documents must be readable, accessible and printable. Excess pages will be disregarded by evaluators.
5. 5Submission is a 2-step process: create EU Login and register organisation; then prepare and submit the application via the Topic page. After submission you will receive a confirmation email including date and time. If confirmation is not received, the application was not submitted.

Template structure and format guidance

Application Form Part A: administrative information (online form). Application Form Part B: technical description — mandatory word template available inside the Submission System. Annexes: optional communication material demonstrating impact. Part B must respect the template structure and page limit; evaluators will not review content beyond the limit. The Call document and the Online Manual provide details on layout and page limits. ¹

Evaluation, award criteria and selection process

Evaluation and award steps

1. 1Pre-selection: a pre-selection panel selects the best six applications per category.
2. 2Jury evaluation: a jury of recognised experts evaluates pre-selected applications against the award criteria. The pre-selection panel and jury usually differ but may share members.
3. 3Mandatory checks: ethics review, legal entity validation, non-exclusion, double funding checks and any other required validations.
4. 4Award decision: based on jury evaluation and mandatory checks, the awarding authority decides winners and finalists.
5. 5Notification and complaints: all applicants receive an evaluation result letter. If applicants consider the evaluation flawed they may submit a complaint following the procedures and deadlines indicated in that letter.

Award criteria and scoring

1. 1Relevance (maximum 40 points; minimum pass 20): alignment with chosen prize category and relevance to target groups, outreach to citizens with limited access, contribution to fight discrimination and respect for EU values.
2. 2Quality (maximum 20 points; minimum pass 10): quality of activities implemented, creativity/innovation, schedule, participant numbers and accessibility for target groups.
3. 3Impact (maximum 40 points; minimum pass 20): qualitative and quantitative impact on participants and communities, additional benefits beyond sport, sustainability over time, replicability, and communication/visibility actions.
4. 4Overall pass threshold: 60 out of 100, and each individual criterion threshold must be met. In case of tied total scores, priority is given to higher Impact score, then Relevance.

Nature of support, payment and other conditions

Nature of support

This opportunity provides monetary prizes (cash awards) to winners and finalists in each category. In addition to prize money, recipients receive visibility and dissemination support through the award ceremony, communication obligations and EU publicity measures (non-monetary benefits). The awarding authority and the Commission have the right to use non-sensitive material provided by winners for dissemination.

Payment arrangements and obligations

Prize payments are made after the award ceremony upon receipt of required documents. In case of a group of winners payment is made to the lead applicant. Winners and finalists must respect communication and visibility obligations, including use of the EU emblem and the funding statement and inclusion of the disclaimer required by the call. The awarding authority may withdraw prizes and recover payments in cases of fraud, false information, ineligibility or serious breaches of obligations.

Administrative, legal and ethics requirements

1. 1Applicants and projects must comply with EU, international and national law and the highest ethical standards. Activities must respect EU fundamental values (dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law, human rights).
2. 2Applicants must be registered in the Participant Register and validated by the Central Validation Service (REA Validation) before the call deadline; supporting documents on legal status and origin will be requested for validation.
3. 3Applicants must not be subject to exclusion decisions, nor have committed the exclusion situations listed in the Rules of Contest.
4. 4Data protection: personal data processing will comply with Regulation 2018/1725. Information on winners is published by the Commission unless a justified request for non-publication is accepted.

Application mechanics and help

1. 1Create an EU Login account and register your organisation in the Participant Register to obtain a PIC.
2. 2Access the Electronic Submission System via the Topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
3. 3Fill Part A directly online, download and complete Part B mandatory template, upload Part B as PDF and any annexes as PDF to the appropriate upload categories in the Submission System.
4. 4Do not exceed page limits; evaluators will not consider additional pages. Ensure PDF uploads are readable and printable.
5. 5For technical problems use the IT Helpdesk; for non-IT queries contact EACEA-SPORT@ec.europa.eu and refer clearly to the call and topic reference.
6. 6Follow the Online Manual and Portal FAQ for detailed submission instructions. Applicants are advised to prepare and submit well ahead of the deadline.

Assessment of process stages, co-funding, success rates and other practical points

Consortium requirement:joint applications are allowed but not mandatory. Single applicants may apply; if a group applies they must appoint a lead applicant. Therefore the topic accepts single applicants and consortia with a lead applicant representing the group.

Co-funding requirement:No applicant co-funding is required for receiving a prize. This is a prize award; the Rules of Contest do not require matching or co-financing from applicants.

Application stages and timeline:The competition uses a pre-selection phase (selection of top 6 per category), jury evaluation, mandatory administrative and ethics checks and then award decision. Applicants therefore typically pass through 2 to 3 selection stages (pre-selection, jury evaluation, mandatory checks/award).

Success rates:The call documentation does not provide historical success rates or an expected number of applicants. The pre-selection will shortlist 6 applications per category; from those the jury will identify one winner and two finalists per category. The competition is therefore likely to be competitive; exact success probability depends on the number and quality of submissions and is not specified in the call.

Templates, page limits and application structure

Application structure and templates (what to prepare)

1. 1Part A (online): administrative information about applicant(s) including PIC, contact details and legal status.
2. 2Part B (PDF, mandatory template downloaded from Submission System): technical description of the activity. Use the exact template from the Submission System and respect layout and page limits. Part B maximum 20 pages. The template indicates sections to complete (project description, results achieved, participants, accessibility, timeline, communication actions, sustainability and replicability, alignment to category objectives, etc.).
3. 3Annexes (optional): communication material only, up to 10 pages, demonstrating impact (e.g. photos, flyers, media coverage). Upload as PDF in the designated annex area.
4. 4Supporting documents for later validation: legal entity documents, bank account validation, declaration of honour, ethics documentation may be requested after eligibility/award decisions.

Applicants should consult Part B template inside the Submission System; the Call Document (Rules of Contest) and the Online Manual provide full instructions on required sections, admissibility criteria and page/format constraints.

Communication, dissemination and IPR

Winners and finalists must actively promote the prize and their results. All communications must acknowledge EU support, display the EU emblem and the funding statement, and include the required disclaimer. The awarding authority and the Commission retain rights to use non-sensitive material supplied by winners for dissemination. Winners do not transfer ownership of their results to the Commission, but must allow non-exclusive use for EU communication purposes.

Important operational notes:Do not wait until the deadline to submit; register and validate your organisation early; consult the Topic page for call updates; applications in any official EU language are accepted, but English is recommended for efficiency.

Concluding summary

What this opportunity is about and how to approach it

The #BeActive EU Sport Awards — Volunteering is an EU prize under the Erasmus+ programme designed to recognise and reward outstanding volunteering activities in sport delivered by organisations or individuals that have demonstrably fostered community engagement, inclusion and development of sport. The prize is one of five #BeActive award categories and focuses on volunteer contribution, leadership and positive social impact. The competition rewards demonstrated, already-implemented activities (not projects still in development) with tangible results. Winners and two finalists per category receive cash prizes and visibility on a pan-European platform. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal using the mandatory templates (Part A online, Part B uploaded as PDF) and respecting page limits. A pre-selection shortlist and a jury evaluation determine finalists and winners; mandatory checks (legal, ethical, non-exclusion, double funding) are performed before award. The total prize pot is €125,000 with €15,000 for each category winner and €5,000 for each of the two finalists. There is no co-funding requirement. Interested applicants should prepare a clear Part B narrative that demonstrates relevance to the Volunteering category, high quality of delivery, measurable impact and replicability, ensure registration and validation in the Participant Register, and submit well before the 17 September 2026 deadline. For detailed rules and the official template consult the call documentation and the Online Manual; contact EACEA-SPORT@ec.europa.eu for non-IT questions and the IT Helpdesk for submission issues ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call document (Rules of Contest) and official call fiche are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal. For full legal and procedural details consult the call documentation: Call fiche and Rules of Contest (ERASMUS-SPORT-2026-EU-AWARDS).

What This Award Recognizes

This Erasmus+ prize recognizes sport activities implemented by organizations and/or individuals that have made outstanding contributions to sports through volunteer work, highlighting dedication, leadership, and the positive impact of volunteers in fostering community engagement, inclusivity, and sports development at all levels ¹.

The award celebrates organizations and individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to supporting and developing sports through volunteer efforts, emphasizing the crucial role volunteers play in shaping the future of sports and inspiring positive change in their communities ¹.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must be legal entities (private or public bodies, including international organizations) established in EU Member States, EEA countries, or Erasmus+ associated countries ¹.

Uniquely for the Volunteering category, the prize may be awarded directly to individuals (natural persons) over 18 years of age, even if they are not the formal applicant organization, provided the applicant still meets all eligibility criteria ¹.

Key Funding Details

Application Timeline & Deadlines

1. 1Call Opening: 30 June 2026
2. 2Submission Deadline: 17 September 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time)
3. 3Evaluation Period: September 2026 – March 2027
4. 4Results Notification: March 2027

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are scored on three criteria:Relevance (max 40 points, min 20), Quality (max 20 points, min 10), and Impact (max 40 points, min 20), with a total pass threshold of 60 points out of 100 ¹.

For the Volunteering category, relevance specifically assesses how well the activity highlights the crucial role volunteers play in fostering community engagement and inspiring positive change ¹.

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; paper submissions are not accepted ¹.

The submission includes Part A (online administrative form), Part B (technical description, max 20 pages, uploaded as PDF), and optional annexes (communication material, max 10 pages) ¹.

Important Conditions

Activities must have been implemented with tangible results at the time of application; projects still in development are not eligible ¹.

Winners and finalists must acknowledge EU support in all communication, display the European flag, and use the mandatory disclaimer: "Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only..." ¹.

A single project can only be submitted once; multiple submissions of the same project are ineligible ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call Document (Rules of Contest) for ERASMUS-SPORT-2026-EU-AWARDS, Version 1.0, published 25 June 2026, available at EU Funding Portal Topic Page.