Im Rahmen eines EFFEA-Residenzprogramms kooperiert ein führendes Festival mit mindestens zwei Partnerfestivals aus teilnahmeberechtigten Ländern, um eine:n aufstrebende:n Künstler:in oder eine aufstrebende Künstler:innengruppe zu unterstützen. Gemeinsam bieten die Festivals den Künstler:innen Zeit, Raum und Unterstützung, um ihre Arbeit weiterzuentwickeln, neue Zielgruppen zu erreichen, Veranstalter:innen kennenzulernen und internationale Kontakte zu knüpfen.
The European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists (EFFEA) is back with its fifth call, supporting festivals to work together and create opportunities for emerging artists across borders. Applications are open from 1 September to 3 November 2026 for residencies taking place in 2027.
An initiative of the European Festivals Association (EFA), EFFEA will support around 50 residencies bringing together at least 150 festivals from across Europe and beyond.
Before applying, read the full Call #5 document on the EFFEA website, including the eligibility criteria, financial conditions, selection criteria and timeline.
What is an EFFEA Residency?
An EFFEA Residency brings together one leading festival and at least two partner festivals from three eligible countries around an emerging artist or artistic group.
Together, the festivals give artists time, space and support to develop their work, reach new audiences, meet programmers and build connections beyond their national context.
Emerging artists are not defined by age but rather by their novelty to programmers and audiences and their potential for international breakthrough. Artists can be individuals or groups working across various artistic disciplines.
Two residency formats can be proposed:
1. EFFEA Discovery: Festivals support artists at the early stages of their careers who have strong potential to break through internationally. 40 grants of €8,000 will be awarded.
2. EFFEA Springboard: Festivals support artists who are already established in their own countries and ready to develop their careers internationally. 10 grants of €15,000 will be awarded.
Info, Networking and Q&A Sessions
A series of EFFEA Sessions will offer opportunities to learn more about the call, support the development of residency proposals and connect with potential partners. EFA organises four online sessions, all taking place on Tuesdays from 11.00 to 12.00 CEST:
15 September 2026 – Register here
29 September 2026 – Register here
13 October 2026 – Register here
20 October 2026 – Register here
Additional EFFEA Sessions will also take place in different countries throughout the call period, organised by EFFEA Platform Members, Associated Partners and Creative Europe Desks. Further dates and locations will be announced as they are confirmed.
For more information
EFFEA website
EFFEA Facebook Page
EFFEA Facebook Community
Email: info@european-festivals.eu
The European Festivals Fund for Emerging Artists is an initiative of the European Festivals Association, co-funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with 15 EFFEA Platform Members: Croatian Composers Society (Croatia), Culture Matters (Czechia), PLMF Arts Management (Estonia), France Festivals (France), Stichting Caucasus Foundation (Georgia), German Centre – International Theatre Institute (Germany), Summa Artium Kultúra Támogató (Hungary), Association of Irish Festival Events (Ireland), ItaliaFestival (Italy), Kosovar Centre for New Music/ ReMusica (Kosovo), ARC Research and Consultancy (Malta), Asociația Centrul Cultural Clujean (Romania), ArtLink (Serbia), Sweden Festivals (Sweden), Development Centre “Democracy through Culture” (Ukraine).
Associated Partners: Culture Action Europe, European Music Council, Pearle* Live Performance Europe, Circostrada, IETM, On the Move, European Dance Development Network, Művészetek Völgye.