It’s best to plan well ahead and develop your ideas with potential partners in time to apply for funding.
The list of funding calls below might provide some ideas to get you going. Don’t forget to check official websites for the full details and keep an eye on any deadlines.
The Horizon list is particularly strong for projects in HI. The Commission’s work programme confirms the eight heritage topics opening 13 May 2027 and closing 23 September 2027, while the two-stage heritage topic opens in March and has its first deadline on 4 May 2027.
It’s always worth keeping an eye on the websites for Erasmus+ and Creative Europe. These two funding programmes have provided support for our members in the past. Both websites currently still show the 2026 programme, but the 2027 offer should be available to view soon.
Interreg consists of numerous programmes, each with its own calls and eligibility rules. The central Interreg site currently lists open/forthcoming calls, while the Commission specifically identifies Interreg as one of the major EU sources for cultural-heritage projects.
Good luck – and don’t forget to use the IE members’ network if you are searching for potential project partners to work with.
Programme / call |
Deadline |
What it is about |
Horizon Europe – Impact-driven research on cultural heritage, arts & CCIs |
4 May 2027 (1st stage) |
Research and innovation using heritage, arts and creative industries to drive sustainable innovation and/or European belonging. |
Creative Europe – European Cooperation Projects |
expected spring 2027 |
Transnational cultural cooperation, audience development, capacity-building, innovation and internationalisation. |
Erasmus+ – Cooperation Partnerships / Small-scale Partnerships |
expected 2027 |
Cooperation, training, professional development, new learning methods and organisational capacity. |
Horizon Europe – Sustainable cultural tourism |
23 Sep 2027 |
Sustainable, inclusive and resilient cultural tourism, including community participation, less-developed destinations and new tourism models. |
Horizon Europe – Societal impact of cultural heritage |
23 Sep 2027 |
Demonstrating and strengthening the social value and impact of cultural heritage. |
Horizon Europe – Safeguarding & transmission of intangible cultural heritage |
23 Sep 2027 |
New approaches to preserving, transmitting and revitalising intangible cultural heritage. |
Horizon Europe – Culture, heritage & creative industries for health and well-being |
23 Sep 2027 |
Research on how culture and heritage can contribute to health and well-being. |
Horizon Europe – Culture/creativity and the social economy |
23 Sep 2027 |
Strengthening the relationship between cultural/creative sectors and the social economy. |
Horizon Europe – Circular economy & crafts |
23 Sep 2027 |
Crafts and cultural/creative practices contributing to circular-economy transitions. |
Horizon Europe – European culture & creativity innovation ecosystem |
23 Sep 2027 |
Strengthening innovation ecosystems and cooperation across cultural and creative sectors. |
Horizon Europe – AI4Creatives |
23 Sep 2027 |
Fair and responsible AI applications for cultural and creative sectors. |
CERV – relevant 2027 calls |
2027 dates vary |
European citizenship, memory, participation and shared European history/values; relevant where heritage has a civic/remembrance dimension. |
Interreg |
programme-specific |
Cross-border/transnational cooperation, including cultural and natural heritage, sustainable tourism and regional development. |
Some funding calls are made of two parts. March 2027 will see the deadline for LIFE projects, which is for the second stage of the 2026 two-stage call. You would not be able to enter the programme at that point as the concept-stage deadline was 3 September 2026. But this is an illustration of why planning to join a LIFE funded project needs to start very early.
LIFE – Strategic Nature Projects (SNaP) |
4 Mar 2027* |
Large-scale projects implementing nature/biodiversity strategies and action plans. |
LIFE – Strategic Integrated Projects (SIP) |
4 Mar 2027* |
Large-scale environmental/climate projects implementing strategies and plans. |
To cite this article: Interpret Europe (2026) “Funding opportunities to prepare for in 2027”, Interpret Europe Newsletter Autumn 2026, pp. 34–36. Available online: Interpret Europe Newsletter Autumn 2026.
