🇧🇪 ESC Participation Awards 2026 🏆 Win an All-Expenses-Paid Trip to Brussels for Your Volunteering Story 🎬

You did it. You packed your bags, moved to another country, navigated a different culture, made connections you didn't expect, and came back changed in ways you are still figuring out. Now it is time to tell that story — because the ESC Participation Awards 2026 want to hear it. And if they choose yours, they are taking you to Brussels.

The European Solidarity Corps Participation Awards 2026 are powered by EYCA (European Youth Card Association) and the European Commission as part of the European Solidarity Corps Programme. This year, the prize is not something you take home — it is something you actually live.

What Are the ESC Participation Awards?

This is an annual awards programme designed to celebrate and amplify the real experiences of young volunteers who have taken part in European Solidarity Corps projects abroad. Not polished PR. Not institutional messaging. Real stories, from real people, about what it genuinely felt like to be part of something bigger than themselves.

This year hits different. The 2026 edition is not just about recognising your experience — it is about bringing it to life in the heart of Europe. Ten winners will be selected by a jury and invited to Brussels for a fully paid programme from 23 to 27 September 2026.

The Prize — What 10 Winners Will Receive

Forget everything you knew about previous editions. This year, the prize is an experience.

All 10 winners receive an all-expenses-paid round trip to Brussels from 23 to 27 September 2026. Everything is covered so you can focus entirely on the experience:

✈️ Round-trip travel

🏨 Accommodation

🍽️ Meals

🚇 Local transport

🎉 Full programme of activities

What Is Waiting for You in Brussels?

🇪🇺 Visits to EU institutions and exploring the Parlamentarium

🌆 Discovering Brussels — and beyond 👀

🎭 Cultural activities and shared experiences

🤝 Meeting and connecting with the other 9 winners

And in between all of that — conversations, laughs, and the kind of moments that only happen when people with similar stories find themselves in the same place.

Who Can Enter?

To take part in the ESC Participation Awards 2026, you must:

🔹 Be 18 to 30 years old

🔹 Be an European Solidarity Corps participant

🔹 Hold a valid Special Edition European Youth Card

🔹 Have a PRN number

⚠️ Non-European participants can enter, but prize travel will follow ESC programme travel rules and eligibility conditions.

⚠️ Prize travel is covered for ESC programme countries: EU Member States and ESC associated third countries — Türkiye, North Macedonia, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

⚠️ Visa and travel documentation costs are not covered.

⚠️ Participation requires availability on the fixed travel dates: 23–27 September 2026.

How to Enter — Step by Step

🎥 Step 1 — Create Your Video

Make a vertical video — maximum 60 seconds — about your ESC volunteering experience.

Tell your story. Tell them:

💬 How you connected with your host community

😰 What challenged you

😮 What surprised you

🔄 What changed you

⚠️ Videos must be original content — no AI-generated videos or simple photo slideshows. Videos must be in English or include subtitles. One entry per participant.

📲 Step 2 — Upload to YouTube Shorts

Post your video on YouTube Shorts with the following requirements:

✅ Maximum 60 seconds

✅ Vertical format

✅ Set to public

In your video description, you must:

📌 Mention that it is part of the ESC Participation Awards 2026

🔗 Include this link: https://volunteer-awards.eyca.org

🏷️ Tag @EuropeanYouthCard

✅ Step 3 — Submit Your Application

Fill in the application form with:

📋 Your personal details

🔗 Your YouTube video link

✍️ A title and short description — maximum 300 characters

How Winners Are Selected

Ten winners will be selected by a jury composed of:

🏛️ A representative from the European Commission

🧑 A member of the EYCA Youth Panel

🏢 A representative from EYCA

The jury will be evaluating:

🎨 Creativity — your personality, your story, your vibe

💬 Message and impact — what does your experience really say?

👀 Engagement — views and likes matter, so share your video widely

Key Dates

📅 Submissions open: 13 April 2026

⏰ Deadline: 18 May 2026 at 23:59 CEST

📢 Winners announced: Week of 15 June 2026

🗓️ Brussels trip: 23–27 September 2026

Important Rules

⚠️ One entry per participant

⚠️ Videos must be in English or include subtitles

⚠️ No AI-generated videos or simple photo slideshows

⚠️ Inappropriate or non-compliant content will be disqualified

⚠️ EYCA reserves the right to reject entries that do not follow the rules

The European Youth Card — A Bonus for All ESC Volunteers

Did you know? Everyone volunteering abroad with the European Solidarity Corps receives a special edition of the European Youth Card — a thank you from the EU and EYCA.

The card gives access to over 20,000 discounts and benefits across more than 30 countries — covering travel, culture, accommodation, transport, shopping, sports, and much more. Whether you are in the middle of your project or planning your next trip, it is your sidekick for spending less and experiencing more.

🔗 Find out more about the European Youth Card: https://eyca.org/volunteers-card