Markets and Networking

The Creative Europe Programme is announcing a grant opportunity under the call titled CREA-MEDIA-2026-MARKETNET, focused on Markets and Networking within the audiovisual sector. The total budget for this call is €16,500,000, aimed at enhancing the promotion of European audiovisual content globally and fostering collaboration among professionals across the entire value chain. The application process is single-stage and is open from September 30, 2025, to January 20, 2026, with evaluations scheduled between February and May 2026. Successful applicants will sign grant agreements in October 2026.

The call supports projects that improve the innovative aspects of European industry markets, encourage the creation of networks, promote sustainability, enhance diversity and inclusion, and leverage technological advancements. Market-focused activities encompass industry events aimed at facilitating business-to-business exchanges, co-productions, and sales, while networking activities emphasize collaboration across different markets and include support for innovative technologies and co-creation of series.

Eligible applicants include audiovisual professionals, organizations within the audiovisual value chain, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and industry associations. Although not explicitly mentioned, consortium applications are likely encouraged due to the emphasis on cooperation. The geographic eligibility primarily includes EU member states and other participating countries in the Creative Europe Programme.

Applicants are advised to review detailed eligibility criteria and submission requirements in the call document. The project stage must focus on market entry and commercial development, indicating that proposed projects should be ready for market-oriented activities. While individual grant amounts are not specified, applicants can expect funding ranges based on typical grant patterns.

Overall, this opportunity provides substantial support for enhancing Europe's audiovisual industry, aiming to improve market presence and competitiveness on a global scale. Potential applicants are encouraged to consult the call documentation and utilize available support resources for guidance throughout the application process.

The Creative Europe Programme (CREA) is offering project grants under the Markets & Networking call (CREA-MEDIA-2026-MARKETNET). This is a single-stage submission process. The call aims to enhance the promotion of European content in the global market and to foster cooperation among all parts of the audiovisual value chain for the co-creation and promotion of European audiovisual works. The total budget allocated to this topic is 16,500,000 EUR. The call was published on 30 September 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 20 January 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled from February to May 2026, with information to applicants in June 2026, and the signature of the grant agreement in October 2026.

The call supports two types of projects and activities: Markets and Networking. Markets should focus on a specific type of films and innovative content, or networking of markets that present similar genre/topics or are located in the same region. Networking activities should focus on cooperation among networks across the whole value chain for the promotion of European talents and works.

The expected impact of the call includes: improving the innovative aspect of existing European industry markets and increasing their systemic impact; encouraging the creation of networks of markets; encouraging the development of networks among European professionals with the aim to co-create series; promoting sustainability and the greening process of the markets; improving the competitiveness, circulation, and promotion of European audiovisual works on international markets; enhancing diversity and inclusion in the markets and networks; and ensuring that Europe's audiovisual industry is taking full advantage of technological and business innovation.

The scope of the Markets aspect includes industry events (physical, digital, or hybrid) focused on business-to-business exchanges among European audiovisual professionals, facilitating co-productions and sales, and showing a structuring effect on the European audiovisual eco-system, as well as impact on the promotion and sales of European audiovisual works on global markets. Activities and events should adapt to current market trends and include innovative content such as videogames, VR, XR, AI, cross-media, animation, or genre audiovisual works. Networks of markets, organized around a thematic basis or geographically, should increase their impact on the audiovisual industry.

The scope of the Networking aspect includes activities related to different existing markets within and outside the countries participating in the MEDIA strand. These activities will include business-to-business promotional activities, including financial support to third parties, aimed at facilitating the distribution of European audiovisual works or exchange of best practices, with a particular focus on innovative technologies and business practices, or activities related to the co-creation of series, leading to marketable and competitive European series.

The admissibility conditions, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring and thresholds, and legal and financial set-up of the grants are all described in the call document.

Applicants should consult the call document and annexes, which include the call document itself, application form templates (Standard application form CREA MEDIA available in the Submission System), Model Grant Agreements (CREA MGA), CREA Annual Work Programmes, CREA Regulation 2021/818, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

To start the submission process, applicants should access the Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal. They should carefully read all provisions before preparing their application. For help related to this call, applicants can contact their local CREATIVE EUROPE DESK or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency at EACEA-MEDIA-MARKETS@ec.europa.eu. Additional support is available through the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this call for proposals aims to bolster the European audiovisual industry by supporting projects that enhance the promotion, co-creation, and distribution of European content through markets and networking activities. It encourages innovation, sustainability, diversity, and the adoption of new technologies within the sector. Applicants should carefully review the call documents and guidelines to ensure their proposals align with the objectives and requirements of the program. The call is essentially a funding opportunity for audiovisual professionals to create and strengthen networks and markets that promote European works and talent on a global scale.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, the call is targeted towards "audiovisual professionals" and entities involved in the "audiovisual value chain." This suggests that eligible applicants could include companies (SMEs and large enterprises), industry associations, film schools, research institutions, and other organizations active in the audiovisual sector. Further details would be available in the call document.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a "CREA Project Grant" (CREA-PJG) and a "CREA Action Grant Budget-Based" (CREA-AG).

Consortium Requirement: The text doesn't explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. However, the emphasis on "networking" and "cooperation" suggests that consortiums are encouraged, if not required. The possibility to "publish partner requests" also points towards collaborative projects. The call document should provide more clarity.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. However, given that it is a "Creative Europe Programme (CREA)" call, it is highly likely that the primary geographic focus is on EU member states and potentially other countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme. The call document should contain the definitive list of eligible countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is the audiovisual industry, with a focus on markets and networking. This includes film, television, videogames, VR, XR, AI, cross-media, animation, and other innovative content formats. The program aims to support business-to-business exchanges, co-productions, sales, and the promotion of European audiovisual works.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the text. However, the call is part of the Creative Europe Programme, implying a focus on the European region.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on development, validation, and commercialization. The call targets "existing European industry markets" and aims to "improve the competitiveness, circulation and promotion of European audiovisual works." This suggests that projects should be beyond the initial research phase and ready for market-oriented activities.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the CREA-MEDIA-2026-MARKETNET call is EUR 16,500,000. The funding range for individual projects is not specified in the provided text, but it can be assumed that the EUR 16.5 million will be distributed across multiple grants.

Application Type: The application type is an "open call" with a "single-stage" submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants. The call mentions "financial support to third parties," indicating that some projects may involve distributing funds to other entities.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. This information would likely be detailed in the call document.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), specifically targeting the "Markets & Networking" aspect of the audiovisual industry. The call, titled CREA-MEDIA-2026-MARKETNET, aims to enhance the promotion of European audiovisual content in the global market by fostering cooperation and networking among professionals across the entire value chain. The program supports two main types of activities: markets (industry events focused on business-to-business exchanges, co-productions, and sales) and networking (activities promoting European talents and works, including co-creation of series). The call encourages projects that improve the innovative aspect of existing European industry markets, promote sustainability, enhance diversity and inclusion, and leverage technological and business innovation. The total budget for this call is EUR 16.5 million, and the application process is a single-stage open call. The publication date for the call was September 30, 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is January 20, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled from February to May 2026, with information to applicants in June 2026 and grant agreement signature in October 2026. Applicants are advised to consult the call document for detailed information on eligibility criteria, proposal requirements, and evaluation procedures. The call is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), and applicants can seek assistance from their local Creative Europe Desk or the EACEA directly.