Project Grant Application Procedures for the 34th EU-Japan Fest in 2026

• Projects organized, supported and recommended by the European Capital of Culture:
  • Oulu 2026 (Finland)
  • Trencin 2026 (Slovakia)
• Projects continued, developed or derived from projects of a previous European Capital of Culture.
• Projects operable within the preparation phase of a future European Capital of Culture.

• The European Capitals of Culture
• Local organizer of projects in the European Capitals of Culture (Past and future ECoCs are included)
• Local organizers/ artists in Japan as host of the projects

• Projects with activities limited to the year of a given European Capital of Culture and without prospects for continuation and development into later years.
• Projects lacking an established framework of cooperation between the organizer and the artist/group.
• Projects lacking the character of being rooted in a community.
• Other projects that the Committee deems inappropriate, such as those offensive to public order and morals.

1. Priorities depending on the Year of European Capital of Culture:

1st priorities:Host cities of European Capitals of Culture 2026

As the 34th: Oulu 2026 (Finland), Trencin 2026 (Slovakia) *For Host city of European Capitals of Culture, grant priorities are made depending on the following order.

• Priority 1: Projects organized, co-organized or supported by Host European Capitals of Culture
• Priority 2: Projects that are not part of the official projects of a European Capital of Culture shall be accorded priority

2nd priorities: Past European Capitals of Culture (1993-2025 / 57 cities) and future European Capitals of Culture (2027-2029 / 7 cities)

*Past and future host cities shall be accorded priority in the order of their proximity to 2024.

2. Priority Areas of Our Committee’s Support Activity:

Priority will be given to projects related to theh follwoign 4 areas: 

• Youth Empowerment: “Empowering youth” to explore the world and build a brighter, more peacuful future
• Nature & Green: Drawing on the richness of traditional cultures to create a “Nature-Positive” future
• Diversity: Fostering a more “Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive” society through culture
• Social Regeneration: Revitalizing cities & regions through culture to make them more “Regenerative”

• The project activity must meet the criteria of our committee’s Basic Policy.
• Organizers and participating artists (or groups) must exercise thorough research, preparation and publicity regarding the project activity.
• Organizers and participating artists should be independent in every aspect and have a reliable budget.
  *Priorities depending on the applicant fundraising:

In Europe: Are the European Capital of Culture and the local organizer seeking grants from governments or public bodies and foundations?[Essential precondition]              

In Japan: Are the participant group and/or artist seeking grants from the Japanese government or public bodies and foundations, and engaged in crowdfunding or like means of fundraising?

*In conducting audits, the Committee will attach importance to the following. Please provide specific information in the application form.

Main call deadline

30 September 2025

Project coverage

#ECoC of the year (2026): January – December 2026
#Other ECoCs: April 2026 – March 2027 (Japanese Fiscal Year)

1. The applicant submits the application form and documents Applicant → EU–Japan Fest Japan Committee
2. Committee forwards decision (approval or rejection) on application by email. EU–Japan Fest Japan Committee → applicant
3. Applicant replies with confirmation by email Applicant → EU–Japan Fest Japan Committee
4. Following the conclusion of the supported project:The applicant submits an activity report (via the electronic form) and printed material (by post) within 1 month after completion of the project. Applicant → EU–Japan Fest Japan Committee
5. Payment of grant made (by bank transfer) within 3 weeks of receipt of materials in step 4 above EU–Japan Fest Japan Committee → applicant

Important notice:

• EU-Japan Fest receives many inquiries about artists we support for new connections or projects from past, current and future ECoCs. To further encourage collaboration between ECoCs and Japan, we have launched a portfolio website of Japanese artists or international artists based in Japan – “Meet Up ECoC！“. We would like to ask participating artists to register “Meet Up ECoC!” as it enables other ECoCs to reach the information. Please inform the Japanese artists/international artists based in Japan whom you are going to collaborate.
• If your project is downsized after the approval, our grant is also subjected to be downsized.。

• Online Application Form / Account Registration
• EUJF Application Instruction
• Support Criteria and Grant Information Financial Resource
• Support Request Letter from European Capital of Culture

*Applicants for the 2026~2029 ECoCs should have their copy of the Support Request Letter to EU-Japan Fest ready, issued by ECoC. You will need to upload this file in Step 7. *Grant application forms and submission guidelines ahttps://www.eu-japanfest.org/projectsupport/entry2025re subject to change without notice at any time. *Applications shall be accepted in accordance with conditions stated in the most recent version of the guidelines.