Competition
Youth Start-Up Challenge 2026
Closed
This call is closed. The page stays up for reference; check the official page for the next round.
The Youth Start-Up Challenge 2026 is an initiative by the European Commission for young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 25 based in the EU or Single Market Programme countries. Three finalists pitch at the SME & Clusters Assembly in Dublin, with the winner invited to the EIC Summit 2027.
Key facts
- Organiser
- European Commission
- Deadline
- September 20, 2026
- Opens
- May 26, 2026
- Amount
- No cash
- Equity
- None
- Entry fee
- Free to apply
- Open to
- European Union
- Stages
- Idea, Pre-seed, Seed
- Sectors
- Any sector
- Format
- In person
- Location
- Dublin, Ireland
- Application languages
- English
Verified on September 28, 2026 against the official page.
Facts are summarised from the official page and can change without notice. Always confirm the rules and deadline there before you apply.