The European Commission has published the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, introducing targeted updates while maintaining overall continuity with the 2025 framework. This post summarises the key changes and differences between the two guides—covering priorities, actions, and structural adjustments—to help organisations, educators, and project developers quickly understand what’s new and how it may affect future applications.
🔹 High-Level Programme Orientation
| Area | 2025 Guide | 2026 Guide | What Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic EU linkages | Links to European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan, EU Youth Strategy, EU Work Plan for Sport | Same links plus explicit support to the Union of Skills initiative and EU Preparedness Union Strategy | New explicit political alignment in 2026 |
| Ukraine-related support | Mitigation of consequences of Russian invasion; support to refugees, learners, staff and organisations | Same focus, wording updated. | Terminology update; policy continuity |
| Overall objectives | Lifelong learning, mobility, inclusion, innovation, European identity | Same objectives | No change |
🔹 Horizontal Priorities (used across actions)
| Priority Area | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inclusion & diversity | Focus on fewer opportunities, migrants, rural/remote areas, gender inequality, refugees from Ukraine | 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, capacity, 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 Actions – Key Actions Overview
| 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” under Cooperation | New sub-action in 2026 |
| KA3 Policy Support | European Youth Together; Jean Monnet | Same | No change |
🔹 Key Action 2 – Notable Change
| Element | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partnerships for Cooperation | Cooperation Partnerships; Small-scale Partnerships | Same plus European Partnerships for School Development | New action line in 2026 |
This new action focuses specifically on school education cooperation at European level.
🔹 Partnerships for Excellence
| Sub-action | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centres of Vocational Excellence | ✔ | ✔ | No change |
| Erasmus+ Teacher Academies | ✔ | ❌ (not listed separately) | Removed as standalone line |
| Erasmus Mundus Action | ✔ | ✔ | No change |
🔹 Jean Monnet Actions
| Area | 2025 | 2026 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fields covered | HE; other education & training; policy debate | Same | No change |
| Description | Standard modules, chairs, centres, networks | Same | 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 in 2026 |
| 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 |
