Erasmus+ 2026 deadlines: complete calendar

Most of the 2026 Erasmus+ deadlines have already passed at the time of writing. But two important windows are still open: the Erasmus Accreditation deadline (29 September) and the second round for KA1 Youth actions — youth exchanges, youth worker mobility and youth participation activities (1 October). This guide leads with what’s still actionable, then gives you the full calendar as a reference for planning ahead into 2027.

Missing a deadline means waiting for the next call — there is no late submission window, no appeal process and no exceptions. A strong application submitted one minute after the deadline is treated identically to no application at all. This guide brings together all confirmed 2026 deadlines for KA1, KA2 and accreditation actions, explains what the second-round dates mean and how to use them strategically, and sets out the preparation timeline you need to meet each remaining deadline with a competitive application — not just a submitted one.

Still Open: What You Can Still Apply For in 2026

If you’re planning a KA210 or KA220 application, that window has closed for 2026 (deadline was 5 March) — see the reference calendar below and the preparation guidance for building toward the 2027 call. The rest of this guide covers the complete calendar and how to prepare for whichever deadline applies to you.

1. How Erasmus+ Deadlines Work

Erasmus+ operates on an annual call cycle. Each year the European Commission publishes a Call for Proposals setting out the deadlines, priorities, eligible actions and budget for that programme year.

All deadlines are set in Brussels time (CET/CEST) and are absolute — the Beneficiary Module closes at the exact deadline time and no further submissions are accepted. There is no grace period, no technical exemption and no possibility of submitting supporting documents after the deadline. If the platform is slow in the final hours before a deadline, that is not accepted as grounds for late submission.

A number of actions have a first-round deadline early in the year and the possibility of a second round later, typically 1 October. This isn’t limited to the youth actions — the Programme Guide allows National Agencies to organise a second round for most KA1 actions and for KA210/KA220 Partnerships alike, though each NA decides independently whether to actually open one. Always check your specific NA’s website rather than assuming a second round exists or doesn’t.

2. Complete 2026 Deadline Calendar by Key Action

The table below covers all confirmed 2026 deadlines from the official Erasmus+ Call for Proposals. All times are Brussels time (12:00 midday unless otherwise noted). Rows marked “NA-dependent” for Round 2 mean the Guide permits a second round, but your National Agency decides whether to actually offer it — check their website.

3. Second-Round Deadlines: What They Mean and Who Should Use Them

KA1 Youth actions — youth exchanges (KA152), youth worker mobility (KA153) and youth participation activities (KA154) — have a confirmed second round with a deadline of 1 October 2026. This round funds projects that start between 1 January and 31 May 2027. Understanding when to use each round is a strategic decision, not just a logistical one. (As covered above, many other actions can also have an NA-organised second round — but it’s optional for the NA to offer, so check directly rather than assuming.)

Round 1 (12 February 2026, now passed) suited applicants whose activity was planned for summer or autumn 2026, whose partnership was confirmed and application ready, or who were experienced applicants familiar with the process.

Use Round 2 (1 October 2026) if you missed Round 1 or your application was not ready in time, you are a first-time applicant who needs more preparation time, your planned activity is in spring 2027 rather than summer 2026, or your partner organisations need more time to confirm participation and obtain OIDs.

4. National Agency Deadlines: Why They May Differ

The dates in the table above are from the official European Commission Call for Proposals — they are the reference deadlines. However, the vast majority of KA1 and KA2 actions are managed by National Agencies at country level, and NAs have some flexibility in how they implement these deadlines.

In practice this means two things. First, some NAs set their submission deadline earlier than the EC reference date — for example, requiring submission by noon on the deadline day rather than midnight, or closing their national platform several days before the EC platform closes. Second, some NAs add national requirements — additional documents, national-language summaries or pre-registration steps — that must be completed before or alongside the platform submission.

Check the National Agency website for your country directly for the exact deadline and any national-level requirements, ideally at least four weeks before you plan to submit.

5. How to Prepare: Reverse Timeline by Key Action

Working backwards from the deadline is the most reliable way to ensure your application is genuinely ready — not just submitted. The timelines below are minimum preparation windows.

For KA152/KA153/KA154 Youth actions — Round 2, 1 October 2026 (still open): If you’re reading this in late August, you have roughly 5 weeks left. That’s tight but workable if your concept and partners are already in place. Weeks 1–2: confirm partners and OIDs, finalise the programme concept and learning objectives. Weeks 3–4: complete the application form. Week 5: final review, partner confirmations and submission — aim to submit several days early.

For KA210/KA220 (5 March 2026 deadline — now passed for 2026): The next KA210/KA220 round will open with the 2027 Call for Proposals, expected around November–December 2026. Start building your consortium and project concept now to be ready for an early 2027 deadline. Use the coming months for partner outreach, project idea development and needs analysis.

For Erasmus Accreditation — 29 September 2026 (still open): If you’re reading this in late August, you have roughly 4 weeks left — this is genuinely tight for a first-time accreditation application, since the Erasmus Plan requires internal consultation, strategic planning and multiple drafts. If your Erasmus Plan isn’t already well underway, seriously consider whether accreditation this round is realistic, or whether preparing thoroughly for next year’s round would produce a stronger application.

6. Most Common Deadline Mistakes

Confusing the EC reference deadline with the NA deadline. The European Commission sets the outer deadline. Your National Agency may require submission earlier — on the same day but at noon rather than midnight, or even a few days before. Submitting at 11:58pm on the EC deadline date when your NA closed at noon is a missed deadline. Always check your NA’s specific submission requirements, not just the EC date.

Assuming the deadline time without checking your applicant type. Most KA210/KA220 applicants submit by 12:00 midday on the deadline date — but European NGOs and sport partnerships have a later 17:00 deadline on the same day. Don’t assume; confirm which applies to you.

Leaving platform registration to the last week. The Beneficiary Module requires an EU Login account, organisation OID registration and — for KA220 — partner mandate uploads. None of these can be done in the final minutes before submission. OID processing takes 1–5 working days. Allow at least two weeks for all platform-related tasks.

Treating the deadline as the target rather than the limit. Submitting on the deadline day means submitting a finished application under time pressure with no buffer for technical problems, last-minute partner issues or form errors. Aim to submit 48–72 hours before the deadline. The platform does not reward last-minute submissions, and a technical failure at 11:55pm is not an accepted excuse.

Starting the application after the deadline is announced. For KA220 and KA210, the deadline is announced months in advance. Organisations that start preparing when the call opens — rather than when the deadline is announced — have 3–4 months of preparation time. Those that start when the deadline is announced have 6–8 weeks. The difference in application quality is consistently visible in evaluation scores.

Missing the accreditation deadline and waiting another year. Erasmus Accreditation has only one deadline per year. Missing it means waiting a full year. For organisations planning a sustained KA1 mobility programme, this is a full year of lost simplified access to funding. Treat the accreditation deadline as a strategic priority, not an administrative task to get to eventually.

7. Deadline Preparation Checklist

• ✅ Correct deadline identified for your Key Action and sector — verified against EC Call for Proposals
• ✅ National Agency deadline confirmed — checked directly on the NA website for your country
• ✅ Applicant-type deadline time confirmed (standard vs European NGO / sport, where relevant)
• ✅ Internal submission target set 48–72 hours before the official deadline
• ✅ EU Login accounts active for all team members who will work on the application
• ✅ OID registered for all partner organisations — at least 2 weeks before deadline
• ✅ Partner mandates/authorisations requested from all partners (KA220) — internal deadline at least 2 weeks before submission
• ✅ Project concept and objectives finalised before form-filling begins
• ✅ Partner confirmations received in writing — not assumed
• ✅ Budget calculated using current 2026 Programme Guide unit cost rates
• ✅ Application reviewed by a second person before submission — not submitted directly from the drafter
• ✅ Submission confirmation email saved — proof of submission retained
• ✅ For accreditation (29 Sep 2026): Erasmus Plan drafted, reviewed and finalised at least 2 weeks before deadline