The European Commission has published the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, introducing targeted updates while maintaining overall continuity with the 2025 framework. This post breaks down the key differences between the two guides — covering priorities, actions, structural adjustments, and budget — so your organisation can quickly understand what has changed and how it affects your next application.
If you are preparing a proposal for a 2026 deadline, this comparison gives you the essential context to align your project with the latest programme expectations.
High-Level Programme Orientation
| Area | 2025 Guide | 2026 Guide | What Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic EU linkages | European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan, EU Youth Strategy, EU Work Plan for Sport | Same, plus explicit support for the Union of Skills initiative and EU Preparedness Union Strategy | New political alignment in 2026 |
| Ukraine-related support | Support to refugees, learners, staff and organisations affected by the Russian invasion | Same focus, wording updated | Terminology update — policy continuity |
| Overall objectives | Lifelong learning, mobility, inclusion, innovation, European identity | Same | No change |
Horizontal Priorities
Horizontal priorities run across all Key Actions and should be reflected in your proposal’s objectives, activities, and impact sections. Here is what changed between 2025 and 2026.
| Priority Area | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion & diversity | Focus on fewer opportunities, migrants, rural areas, gender inequality, Ukrainian refugees | Same scope, plus explicit reference to mental health and preparedness | Expanded framing |
| Green transition | Sustainability competences, green sector skills, New European Bauhaus | Same | No change |
| Digital transformation | Digital readiness, AI, digital pedagogy, disinformation, digital well-being | Same | No change |
| Civic engagement / EU values | Participation in democratic life, EU awareness, Youth Participation Strategy | Same, adds preparedness and resilience | Broader societal framing |
Structure of Key Actions
| Key Action | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KA1 — Learning Mobility | Same set of mobility actions | Same | No structural change |
| KA2 — Cooperation | Partnerships for Cooperation, Excellence, Innovation, Capacity Building | Same categories, plus European Partnerships for School Development | New sub-action in 2026 |
| KA3 — Policy Support | European Youth Together; Jean Monnet | Same | No change |
KA2 Notable Change — European Partnerships for School Development
The most significant structural addition in the 2026 guide is the introduction of European Partnerships for School Development under KA2 Cooperation. This new action line focuses specifically on school education cooperation at European level — expanding opportunities for schools and education authorities to collaborate across borders.
If your organisation works in school education, this is worth examining closely as a new funding route that did not exist in 2025.
Partnerships for Excellence
| Sub-action | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centres of Vocational Excellence | ✓ | ✓ | No change |
| Erasmus+ Teacher Academies | ✓ | ✗ | Removed as standalone line |
| Erasmus Mundus Action | ✓ | ✓ | No change |
Capacity Building — International Dimension
| Aspect | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regions & strands | Regional + cross-regional | Same | No change |
| Global Gateway alignment | Not explicit | Strand 3 projects in several regions must align with Global Gateway priorities | New mandatory condition |
| Special initiative | None specified | EU–Moldova Master’s in European Affairs | New flagship action |
Budget Information
| Aspect | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall envelope | ~€26 billion (2021–2027) | Same | No change |
| Legal basis reference | Erasmus+ Regulation | Erasmus+ Regulation plus EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 | New legal reference added |
What This Means for Your 2026 Application
The 2026 Programme Guide represents evolution rather than revolution. The core structure, eligibility rules, and funding logic remain unchanged. The meaningful differences are:
- Two new political priorities — Union of Skills and EU Preparedness — should be referenced where relevant in your proposal’s priority alignment section
- Mental health is now explicitly named under inclusion — relevant for youth, education, and VET projects
- The new European Partnerships for School Development opens a new route for school-focused organisations
- Capacity Building Strand 3 applicants in certain regions now face a mandatory Global Gateway alignment requirement
- Erasmus+ Teacher Academies no longer appear as a standalone action line
For KA210 and KA220 applicants — which represent the core of ErasmusForge’s supported actions — the 2026 guide brings no structural changes to eligibility, budget rules, or evaluation criteria. The priority alignment updates are the most relevant consideration for your proposal.
Ready to write your 2026 Erasmus+ proposal?
ErasmusForge is fully aligned with the 2026 Programme Guide — guiding you through every section of your KA210 or KA220 application, step by step, with built-in AI assistance and evaluation scoring.
About the Author
Petros Konstantas — Erasmus+ Expert & Founder of ErasmusForge. Supporting organisations across Europe with Erasmus+ proposals since 2015.