Applications are open for a Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT) call to provide a European Festival of Journalism and Media Freedom to facilitate exchanges between media professionals from across Europe. The festival should aim at reinforcing dialogue, cooperation and partnership among journalists, media outlets, civil society organisations and media professionals in the European Union.

Three annual EU-wide editions of the festival shall be organised. Each event should gather media professionals from different backgrounds, ie, large media corporations, freelancers, independent investigative journalists, local media outlets, as well as representatives of press associations and media freedom NGOs. National and European authorities’ representatives would also be invited as guest speakers or observers.

Every edition of the festival should produce a list of policy recommendations, key learnings and best practices, taking into account contributions submitted by journalists all around Europe ahead of the festival together with the conclusions of the event.

The events should be organised in hybrid mode to reach the widest possible audience. The first edition should take place in the first quarter of 2026, followed by a second edition in either Q4 2026 or Q1 2027 and a third one in 2027, each time in a different Member State of the Union.

Proposals may be submitted by any of the following applicants or combinations of:

• Professional organisations and associations (private or public).
• Editors.
• Publishers.
• International organisations.
• Universities.
• Educational institutions.
• Research centres.

Other entities may participate in other consortium roles, such as associated partners, subcontractors, third parties giving in-kind contributions, etc. Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least three entities from three different eligible countries.

The available call budget is €3 million. The EU co-financing is limited to a maximum of 90% of the total eligible costs. It is expected that one project will be funded.