Deadline Date: March 20, 2026
The Digital Skills and Jobs Platform of the European Commission has announced the European Digital Skills Awards 2026 to recognise organisations across Europe that are advancing digital competencies through impactful projects and initiatives.
The awards highlight several focus areas including Digital Upskilling @ Work, which supports projects that help professionals and SMEs reskill or upskill in digital technologies and facilitate job placements for ICT professionals; Digital Skills for Education, which focuses on initiatives aimed at improving digital competencies among teachers, students, vocational education and training institutions, and school administrations; Inclusion in the Digital World, which recognises projects providing digital training, media literacy, and accessibility skills to vulnerable and marginalised groups at risk of exclusion; Women in ICT Careers, which encourages projects that increase women’s representation in the ICT sector, support workforce upskilling, and inspire girls to pursue careers in technology; and Cybersecurity Skills, which highlights initiatives designed to strengthen cybersecurity knowledge and capabilities among citizens and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The European Digital Skills Awards celebrate organisations that are working to build a digitally inclusive society by promoting essential digital skills across different sectors and communities. The initiative recognises innovative projects that empower individuals with digital literacy and provide practical opportunities for learning and employment in the digital economy.
Public entities, private enterprises, academic institutions, grassroots organisations, and EU-funded project consortia are encouraged to apply if they have implemented initiatives that support the development of digital skills. The awards aim to showcase successful examples of digital skills development and inspire further action across Europe.
Projects submitted for the awards must meet specific eligibility requirements. The initiative must be ongoing and should have already achieved at least half of its planned milestones, or it may be a completed project that ended no earlier than January 2026. Projects that won awards in the 2025 edition are not eligible to apply again. Additionally, the project or initiative must be implemented in at least one European Union Member State, although initiatives operating in both EU and non-EU countries can apply if they demonstrate clear impact within EU Member States.
Through this recognition, the European Commission seeks to highlight outstanding contributions that strengthen digital skills development and promote greater participation in the digital world across Europe.
For more information, visit Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.
