The EIT Culture & Creativity Innovation Projects 2026 call funds companies in architecture, audio-visual media and fashion in two stages. Stage 1 closes on 30 October 2026 at 17:00 CET (Berlin time) and pays a EUR 20,000 lump sum. Selected teams then apply to Stage 2 by 15 March 2027 for up to EUR 900,000 per project.
For Impact DOTS readers, this is a narrow fit. It is aimed at commercial creative-industry companies, not NGOs or social enterprises outside those three sectors. It is most relevant to impact-minded founders in architecture, audio-visual media or fashion, and to funders who track European innovation calls.
At a glance
| Deadline | Stage 1: 30 October 2026, 17:00 CET (Berlin time). Stage 2: 15 March 2027, 17:00 CET (Berlin time) |
| Who can apply | Stage 1: a single legal entity (startup, scale-up, SME or larger company) in architecture, audio-visual media or fashion. Stage 2: a consortium of two to three independent legal entities |
| Support | Stage 1: EUR 20,000 lump sum per project. Stage 2: up to EUR 900,000 per project, up to 70% of total eligible project costs, over 18 months |
| Location | Legal entities established in an eligible country under Horizon Europe (see the country rule below) |
| Cost to apply | No application fee is listed on the call page |
| Official link | EIT Culture & Creativity: Innovation Projects 2026 |
Who can apply to the Innovation Projects 2026 call?
- Stage 1: a single legal entity, described as a startup, scale-up, SME or larger company, operating in architecture, audio-visual media or fashion. The call page states that research organisations, universities and cultural institutions are not eligible as sole applicants.
- Stage 2: a consortium of two to three independent legal entities, including a mandatory commercialisation partner and an optional additional partner. According to the call document, the Stage 1 applicant coordinates the project.
Country rule, as the call page words it: "Legal entities established in an eligible country under Horizon Europe: EU Member States (including outermost regions), linked Overseas Countries and Territories, Horizon Europe Associated Countries." The call document also refers to certain low and middle-income countries under Horizon Europe rules, and it excludes legal entities established in Russia, Belarus or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine. Check your country against the call document before you start.
What does the call provide?
The call page lists a EUR 20,000 lump sum per project in Stage 1, with up to 30 projects. Stage 2 offers up to EUR 900,000 per project for up to 11 projects. Funding covers up to 70% of total eligible project costs over 18 months, and projects run until December 2028.
One term to read closely: the call document says projects selected after Stage 2 must sign a Revenue Sharing Agreement, returning between 3.5% and 5% of qualifying revenues to EIT Culture & Creativity. It is not an application fee.
How to apply
- Optional: register for the information session on 7 October 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 CEST (Berlin time), through the registration form.
- Read the call document and its selection criteria.
- Submit the Stage 1 form by 30 October 2026, 17:00 CET (Berlin time), through the Stage 1 application form linked from the organizer’s page.
- If selected, the Stage 2 form is shared with selected Stage 1 applicants. Build your consortium and submit by 15 March 2027, 17:00 CET (Berlin time).
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Confirm your sector first. The call is limited to architecture, audio-visual media and fashion, so an adjacent creative field is not covered by the page wording.
- Plan the commercialisation partner early. Stage 2 requires one, and the Stage 1 applicant must be ready to coordinate.
- Budget for the Revenue Sharing Agreement before you apply, since it applies to projects funded after Stage 2.
FAQ
Is the call open to NGOs and universities?
Not as sole Stage 1 applicants. The call page states that research organisations, universities and cultural institutions are not eligible on their own. Stage 1 is for startups, scale-ups, SMEs and larger companies.
When are the deadlines?
Stage 1 closes on 30 October 2026 at 17:00 CET (Berlin time). Stage 2 closes on 15 March 2027 at 17:00 CET (Berlin time).
Is there an application fee?
The call page does not mention one.
