Deadline Date: September 23, 2026
The European Commission has launched the “Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning” topic under Horizon Europe to support research and innovation actions that strengthen democratic participation, civic engagement, and inclusive citizenship learning across all age groups.
The focus areas of this opportunity include lifelong civic and citizenship learning, democratic participation, civic engagement, vocational education and training (VET), adult education programmes, political awareness, democratic values, digital and media literacy, civic tech, public policy participation, volunteering, civil society engagement, inclusion of persons with disabilities, gender and intersectional perspectives, ageing populations, inter-generational participation, critical thinking, and resilience against disinformation.
The programme recognises that healthy democracies depend on informed citizens who can actively participate in democratic processes and make informed choices. It highlights the role of education in strengthening democratic engagement and fostering trust in public institutions through lifelong learning opportunities accessible to all citizens regardless of age, socio-economic status, or educational background.
The research topic particularly encourages studies examining how vocational education and training programmes, apprenticeships, and adult education initiatives can enhance civic knowledge, awareness of political systems, and commitment to democratic principles such as freedom, equality, human dignity, and the rule of law. Projects are expected to analyse how participation in such programmes contributes to increased democratic involvement, including voting, participation in policy-making, volunteering, and engagement with civil society organisations.
The call also places strong emphasis on digital and media literacy. Research may explore how adult learning and VET programmes can help citizens navigate complex digital information ecosystems, identify disinformation, and use digital tools to support democratic participation. At the same time, proposals may investigate non-digital and person-to-person approaches that improve participation among groups facing digital barriers, particularly ageing populations.
Projects are encouraged to pilot innovative teaching methods and curricula that strengthen citizenship awareness among educators and learners in vocational and adult education settings. A gender-sensitive and intersectional approach must be integrated throughout the research, especially considering groups that face barriers to participation, accessibility challenges, or risks of political disengagement.
The topic falls under HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09 as a Horizon Research and Innovation Action (RIA). The total budget allocated is €16 million, with expected project funding ranging between €3.5 million and €4 million. The submission process follows a single-stage application model. The call opened with a deadline scheduled for 23 September 2026.
The opportunity is open to any legal entity regardless of place of establishment, including organisations from non-associated third countries and international organisations, provided they meet the Horizon Europe participation requirements. Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before grant agreement signature.
For more information, visit European Commission.
