European Digital Skills Awards 2026 - FAQs for applicants
Deadline for applications
Applications are open until 20 March 2026. You can submit your application by completing this application form. For any updates on EDSA26, sign up to the Digital Skills and Jobs Digest.
Eligibility criteria
Who can apply?
An ongoing project which has already reached at least half of its set milestones or an accomplished project that has ended no earlier than January 2026.
Which countries are eligible to apply for the European Digital Skills Awards 2026?
Projects implemented in any one of the 27 EU countries are eligible to apply for the Awards (for more information check the official list of EU countries).
Please note that if a project is implemented in multiple countries, some of which are EU countries, and some not, the project can still apply for the EDSA26. The application, however, must be submitted by one of the partners which is located in an EU country.
What type of organisations can submit their candidatures?
All types of organisations, of all sizes, private, public, non profit, public organisations, National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs, chambers of commerce, schools, training centres, universities, citizen initiatives, EU funded projects etc.
Can consortia send applications?
Yes, they can, as long as the leading partner sends the application on behalf of the consortium, or a partner in the consortium with the authorisation of the consortium leader.
Can I apply as a consortium if one or more organisations are based outside the EU?
The project or initiative must be implemented in at least one EU Member State. Projects that are implemented in non-EU countries may apply as long as they can demonstrate significant impact in at least one EU Member State.
Can EU funded projects apply?
Yes, they can. In this case the leading partner must submit the application, or a partner authorised by the leading partner.
Can winners of the previous edition (EDSA24 and EDSA25) apply again?
Projects that have already been submitted and have been elected as winners in the EDSA24 and EDSA25 editions cannot re-apply. However, the same organisations, that have already applied before, can submit their applications for a new different project.
Application procedure
Can I fill in the application online before creating the user and organisation in the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform?
Yes, but remember that for your application to be valid, you must complete both operations: creating a user profile and an organisation in the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, and filling in the application form online.
How do I create a profile and link it to an organisation on the DSJP?
You can download the instructions.
In which language should I fill in the application?
Exclusively in English.
What are the categories to apply for the Awards?
The Awards aim to reward projects and initiatives that are helping bridge the digital gap in 5 separate categories:
- Digital Upskilling @ Work: Initiatives focused on digital upskilling and reskilling professionals in various sectors and of SMEs, facilitating job placements for ICT professionals at all levels.
- Digital Skills for Education: Projects specifically aimed at digital upskilling for teachers and/or students, VET and school administrations.
- Inclusion in the Digital World: Efforts centred on digital training, media literacy programs for groups of persons that experience a higher risk of poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and violence, including, but not limited to, ethnic minorities, migrants, people with disabilities, isolated elderly people and children, marginalised, hard to reach and high-risk groups, and initiatives to foster digital accessibility skills.
- Women in ICT Careers: Projects aimed at increasing the representation of women in ICT professions, offering digital upskilling opportunities for women in the workforce, and encouraging young women to pursue careers in ICT.
- Cybersecurity Skills: Designed for cybersecurity skills development initiatives for citizens and SMEs.
Can I apply for more than one category?
Organisations are permitted to submit a single application under one Award category. Where the same project or initiative is submitted under multiple categories, only one application will be retained for evaluation, under the category deemed most relevant by the DSJP Team.
You can apply with multiple projects but each project for one category only. So if you have a project, for example, that trains young women on ICT skills, you must between either the Women in ICT careers category or the Empowering Youth in Digital, but not both.
Can I apply for more than one project that my organisation is running?
Yes, this is possible.
How do I check if my organisation is already in the platform?
First you create a user profile, then search the list of available Organisations in the organisations database.
Prizes
What are the prizes for the winners?
The winners will be invited to participate in the Awards Ceremony in Brussels organised by the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform. The prizes will include the travel and accommodation costs to Brussels for this occasion. We will also present the winners with a special diploma, a trophy and their good practice will be promoted across Europe via the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform and @DigitalSkillsEU channels.
Is there a prize for the finalists too?
Yes, there is. Each shortlisted finalist will be announced during the Online Awards Event, they will receive a badge for their website and social media, and their case study/story will be promoted via the DSJP official communications channels.
Technical issues
Who can I reach out for technical support?
If you encounter technical issues, please write to info@digitalskillsjobs.eu. Please note that the Platform team is available to answer your questions during working hours (Monday - Friday from 09:00 to 18:00 Brussels Time).
What if I receive a notification that my account is blocked?
Your user account must be approved before you can start using the Platform and filling in your personal profile and the one for your organisation. Accounts are approved during working hours, so if you receive a notification that your account is blocked, do not worry, it will be activated within a short time.
Pledges for Digital Skills and European Digital Skills Awards
- What's the difference between Pledges and the Awards?
The Pledges for Digital Skills and the European Digital Skills Awards are initiatives launched by the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform of the European Commissions and aim to showcase the best projects in Europe that contribute to enhancing digital skills. All organisations from Europe can join both initiatives, but keep in mind that they have different eligibility criteria. You can submit a Pledge via the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform at any time, as there is no deadline, while you can apply for the Awards until 20 March 2026.
For the Pledges, the initiatives must respect the following eligibility criteria:
- Start at any time, before 2025 or in 2025.
- Be free of conditions to the beneficiaries.
- Equip Europeans, employees, unemployed, ICT specialists, teachers, students or elderly people, with the skills they need for life and work in the digital age.
- Include activities such as trainings for ICT professionals or job seekers, MOOCs for teachers, coding classes for children, etc.
For the Awards, the projects must:
- Be completed (at the latest in 2025), or must be currently running and have already accomplished 50% of its milestones.
- Be implemented in one or more EU countries.
- Support the adoption of digital skills in one of the 5 categories of the awards.
- Can I apply for both?
Yes, you can, provided your initiative or project fulfils both sets of criteria for eligibility.