LIFE 2026: 31 open calls and EUR 601.5 million

LIFE is the only European Union funding instrument devoted entirely to the environment and climate policy. It began back in 1992, and since then it has co-financed thousands of projects across nature conservation, the circular economy, emission reduction and clean energy. In the current 2021-2027 programming period CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, manages LIFE on a total budget of roughly EUR 5.43 billion. The programme is structured into four sub-programmes plus a separate block of operating grants for non-governmental organisations.

The 2026 round launched on 21 April 2026 with a combined budget of EUR 601.5 million and covers 31 open calls. Most submission deadlines fall on 16 and 22 September 2026, while operating grants carry their own September dates. Strategic projects (SNaP and SIP) follow a two-stage procedure, so concept notes go in by 3 September 2026 and full proposals by 4 March 2027.

For Ukrainian organisations the programme is fully accessible. Ukraine has been associated to LIFE since 2022 and became the first country outside the EU to join. That means Ukrainian legal entities can submit proposals and receive funding on the same footing as organisations from Member States. And this year the BUILD UP Skills call lists Ukraine directly among its target countries, which makes that strand especially relevant.

Applicants can be public or private legal entities: authorities, companies, education and research institutions, and civil society organisations. Natural persons cannot take part. The standard co-financing rate covers 60 per cent of eligible costs, and for nature projects addressing priority habitats and species it can reach 75 per cent. Since exact co-financing conditions appear in the documentation of each individual call, check there, and submit through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

The overview below organises all 31 calls by sub-programme. For every strand it gives a short description, the project type, the submission deadline and a direct link to the official call page on the CINEA website, where the full documentation and requirements sit.

Nature and biodiversity

This is the historic core of LIFE. The sub-programme delivers the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive and supports the functioning of the Natura 2000 network. Its calls cover standard projects for practical nature restoration as well as large strategic initiatives that rebuild the system of conservation governance at national or regional level. For organisations without experience of large European projects there is a separate preparatory grant.

1. Standard action projects: nature and biodiversity (Nature)

This call targets the development, demonstration and dissemination of innovative techniques, methods and approaches, including nature-based solutions, to meet the objectives of EU nature and biodiversity legislation. So priority goes to the practical restoration of habitats and species populations, together with the management of protected areas.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

2. Standard action projects: nature and biodiversity (Governance and Information)

The second priority area of the sub-programme covers awareness raising, legal compliance and access to justice in matters of nature protection. Specifically, it supports information campaigns, education programmes, engagement with the judiciary and inspection bodies, plus community monitoring platforms and citizen science.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

3. Technical assistance for preparing SNaPs

This grant funds the preparation of a quality proposal for a strategic nature project. In practice eligible activities include baseline analysis, stakeholder consultations, designing the structure of the future project, bringing in partners and planning co-financing. The instrument makes a sensible first step for organisations that have yet to deliver large European projects.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

4. Strategic nature projects (SNaP)

This is the largest project type in the programme by funding volume. SNaP projects integrate EU nature and biodiversity objectives into sectoral policies and financial mechanisms through coordinated action programmes at national or regional level, notably by implementing the Prioritised Action Frameworks (PAF) for Natura 2000. Also, mobilising additional funding from other sources is a mandatory condition.

Submission deadline: concept notes 3 September 2026; full proposals 4 March 2027
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

Circular economy and quality of life

This sub-programme brings together projects on waste management, zero pollution, sustainable resource management and environmental governance. Two different call types coexist here. Open calls for standard projects (SAP) work bottom-up, so the applicant defines the problem and the solution. Projects on legislative and policy priorities (PLP) instead deliver a task the Commission has formulated precisely.

5. Standard action projects: circular economy and zero pollution (Environment)

This call covers three priority areas: the circular economy and waste management, zero pollution, and sustainable management of natural resources. First, projects have to develop and demonstrate innovative approaches for meeting the objectives of EU environmental legislation. Topics include waste and secondary raw materials, water, air, soil, noise, chemicals, plus sustainable production and consumption.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

6. Standard action projects: environmental governance

This topic addresses projects that work on the quality of governance instead of technology. It supports the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU environmental legislation. In practice typical directions include awareness raising, compliance assurance, access to justice and building the institutional capacity of authorities. This is the most accessible strand for civil society organisations and think tanks.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

7. Technical assistance for preparing SIPs (Environment)

A preparatory grant for strategic integrated projects in the environmental field. Specifically, the funds cover developing the concept, analysing the relevant plan or strategy, mapping stakeholders, assembling the consortium and designing the financial architecture of a future SIP. The instrument suits regional and national authorities planning a SIP submission in later rounds.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

8. Strategic integrated projects (SIP Environment)

SIP projects support the implementation of environmental strategies and action plans required by EU legislation, notably waste management plans, river basin management plans and air quality programmes. LIFE covers coordination and catalytic actions, while the main investment comes from other funds. Overall the applicant is usually the authority responsible for the relevant plan. The procedure runs in two stages.

Submission deadline: concept notes 3 September 2026; full proposals 4 March 2027
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

9. Projects on legislative and policy priorities (PLP)

These projects run top-down: the European Commission formulates the task, and a proposal must match it precisely. Then priorities are set annually following consultations with Member States and associated countries, and they reflect the current EU legislative agenda in nature, biodiversity and the circular economy. The strand works best for organisations with narrow specialist expertise.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

Climate change mitigation and adaptation

The climate sub-programme works towards the goals of the European Climate Law: cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 and reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Its calls divide into three priority areas, namely adaptation, mitigation and climate governance. Strategic integrated projects appear separately, because they deliver national energy and climate plans on the ground.

10. Standard action projects: climate change adaptation

This call supports delivery of the European Climate Law and the EU Adaptation Strategy. Specifically, eligible activities cover demonstration and pilot solutions: water management under drought and scarcity, flood protection, urban cooling, and adaptation in agriculture, forestry, coastal areas and critical infrastructure.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

11. Standard action projects: climate change mitigation

This call serves the objectives of the European Climate Law, namely cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 against 1990 levels and reaching climate neutrality by 2050. In practice it supports solutions with measurable emission reductions or increased removals in energy, industrial processes, transport, agriculture, land use and forestry (LULUCF), plus the handling of fluorinated gases.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

12. Standard action projects: climate governance and information

The third priority area of the climate sub-programme covers the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU climate legislation. In practice that means support for national and local climate policies, plans and strategies, building monitoring and reporting systems, strengthening administrative capacity, and running information campaigns.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

13. Technical assistance for preparing SIPs (Climate)

A preparatory grant for climate strategic integrated projects. The instrument funds the preparation of a SIP CLIMA proposal, including analysis of the national or regional climate plan and agreement between levels of government. Also funding covers bringing in experts, running stakeholder consultations and developing a full proposal.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

14. Multilevel climate and energy dialogue

This call serves the Energy and Climate Governance Regulation and the shaping of the post-2030 energy and climate framework. Specifically, projects have to create or strengthen working multilevel dialogue platforms involving local and regional authorities, civil society, business and citizens. Providing methodology, facilitation and a link between results and national planning is mandatory.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

15. Strategic integrated projects (SIP Clima)

The climate counterpart of SIP Environment, oriented towards climate plans: national energy and climate plans (NECP), adaptation strategies and long-term low-carbon strategies. A project has to deliver the relevant plan on the ground, so producing another document falls short. Multilevel governance, coordination across levels and sectors, and co-financing are mandatory. The procedure runs in two stages.

Submission deadline: concept notes 3 September 2026; full proposals 4 March 2027
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

Clean energy transition

The youngest LIFE sub-programme and also the largest by number of calls in this round. Unlike the other strands, it funds mostly non-technological measures: coordination, capacity building, cooperation platforms and financial instruments. Topics span heating and cooling, building energy efficiency, grid digitalisation, energy poverty and community energy. This is also where the BUILD UP Skills call sits, with Ukraine listed directly among its target countries.

16. HEATCOOLPLAN: local heating and cooling plans

Heating and cooling account for roughly half of final energy consumption in the EU, and imported fossil fuel still supplies a significant share of that volume. So the topic funds the development of integrated local plans, including building technical skills, collecting geospatial and socioeconomic data, forecasting demand and identifying sources of renewable and waste heat.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

17. POLICY: implementing key energy legislation

The topic supports delivery of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Here an applicant picks one of two strands. Strand A covers applying the energy efficiency first principle and developing standardised methodologies for it. Strand B supports EPBD transposition and the rollout of the relevant policy instruments.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

18. RENEWHC: national frameworks for renewable heat in existing buildings

The topic funds national collaboration platforms designed to strengthen regulatory and financial frameworks for the mass installation of heat pumps and solar collectors in existing buildings. In practice a platform has to bring together equipment suppliers and installers, investors, utilities, regulators and the relevant authorities.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

19. BETTERRENO: markets and instruments for energy renovation

The topic delivers the goals of the Renovation Wave strategy and supports the revised EPBD. Strand A scales up quality, competitive energy renovations: removing market barriers, aggregating demand, business models with energy performance guarantees, and digital tools. Finally, strand B strengthens the information instruments of the EPBD.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

20. INDUSTRY: clean energy transition for industry and business

The topic sets out to close the gap between supply and demand for net-zero technologies and to build cooperation between companies located close together. So a project has to establish cooperation mechanisms and prepare investment plans listing realistic projects, endorsed by stakeholders. Support for partnerships with ports and industrial clusters is provided separately.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

21. BUILD UP Skills: national platforms for energy efficiency skills

This topic carries particular weight for Ukraine, because the call addresses countries that have yet to update their national skills platform and roadmap, and Ukraine appears among them directly. In practice a project has to create or relaunch a national skills platform as a permanent structure involving authorities, professional chambers, education providers, trade unions and academia.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

22. DIGITAL: digitalising distribution system operators

Digitalising distribution system operators (DSOs) enables more efficient management of distribution grids, the growth of flexibility markets and active consumer participation. For small and medium operators, however, that transition comes with complex technical and organisational constraints. The topic funds capacity building for deploying digital technologies that already exist.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

23. PRIVAFIN: crowding private capital into sustainable energy

The topic aims at large-scale mobilisation of private capital into energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Specifically, eligible activities cover non-technological instruments: developing and replicating financial products and schemes, de-risking mechanisms, standardising project appraisal procedures, and building the capacity of banks, investors and financial intermediaries.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

24. ONE-STOP-SHOPS: integrated services for private buildings

The main obstacle to renovating private housing is often the complexity of the process instead of a shortage of money. The topic funds the creation, expansion and path to self-sufficiency of one-stop-shop services: technical advice and energy audits, selecting and supervising contractors, support in obtaining subsidies and loans, and quality control of completed works.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

25. PDA: project development assistance

Technical assistance that brings specific sustainable energy investment projects to a bankable state: technical and financial studies, audits, legal and procurement support, structuring the finance and preparing tenders. In practice typical applicants are municipalities, regions, energy agencies and utilities. A project is assessed above all on the volume of investment it triggers.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

26. EMPOWER: smart and clean energy solutions for affordability in EU cities

The topic links the energy transition to affordability, because solutions have to lower residents bills alongside cutting emissions. So it funds the scaling of existing smart and clean energy solutions in an urban context, including local renewable generation, demand flexibility and energy sharing. The emphasis sits on non-technological barriers.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

27. ENERPOV: alleviating household energy poverty

The topic funds practical support schemes for vulnerable households that combine social and energy approaches. Specifically, this covers identifying and reaching such households, advice and energy mentoring, micro-investments and small energy efficiency measures, access to subsidies, and work with rented housing.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

28. ENERCOM: cooperation among energy communities

The topic funds the development of cooperation between energy communities and cooperatives: creating and strengthening networks and federations, shared services and tools, transferring experience from mature cooperatives to new ones, preparing model legal and financial templates, and engaging with regulators and grid operators. The strand works best for civil society organisations active in community energy.

Submission deadline: 16 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

29. Ecodesign and energy labelling compliance support facility

EU ecodesign and energy labelling requirements work only when suppliers and retailers comply with them. So the call funds the creation of a support service: practical guidance, self-check tools, advice, training, work with the EPREL database and engagement with market surveillance authorities. The aim is to reduce the share of incorrectly labelled products on the EU market.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

Operating grants for NGOs

A separate funding block that supports the sustainability of organisations themselves. Individual projects fall outside it. A framework partnership agreement with the European Commission becomes the basis for annual operating grants covering core activity. This is a rare type of support, because it covers exactly the costs that project budgets normally cannot carry.

30. Framework partnership agreements (FPA)

This is a framework partnership with the European Commission for non-profit organisations whose main activity lies in the environment, climate or the clean energy transition. Instead the assessment covers the organisation itself: its strategy, European added value, contribution to EU policy development and capacity to work across borders. A concluded agreement becomes the basis for annual operating grants throughout its term.

Submission deadline: 8 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

31. Specific operating grant agreements for NGOs (SGA)

An annual grant for the core activity of an organisation: salaries, administration, advocacy, analysis and communication, with no individual project or defined deliverables attached. The instrument is available to organisations holding a valid framework partnership agreement with the European Commission. This is the most valuable type of funding for the sustainability of a civil society organisation.

Submission deadline: 22 September 2026
Official call page: cinea.ec.europa.eu

The InCL-U-DE project: free support for Ukrainian applicants

One more thing worth knowing is the InCL-U-DE project, which builds Ukrainian participation in the LIFE Programme. This is a 36-month technical assistance project, co-funded by the EU under LIFE itself. Lviv Polytechnic National University coordinates it together with the All-Ukrainian Environmental League, with the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine as associated partner.

The project works along four lines: raising awareness of the programme, training through workshops, online courses and summer schools, connecting Ukrainian environmental priorities to LIFE objectives, and the most practical one for an applicant, consultations that turn an idea into a proposal capable of winning funding. So for an organisation looking at LIFE for the first time, this is a free alternative to a paid consultant.

The context the team gives in figures: since 2016 funding went to 30 projects involving Ukraine, the EU contribution to those projects reached EUR 7.75 million, and more than 60 Ukrainian organisations have taken part in LIFE projects overall. In recent years Ukrainian institutions have also acted as consortium coordinators.

The project website carries its own overview of the 2026 calls with descriptions and deadlines, a resources section and an events calendar. The team also runs a monthly newsletter on open calls. For questions the contact is po@lpnu.ua, phone (032) 258 24 55, address 3 Mytropolyta Andreia Street, room 101, Lviv. The consortium composition is published on the site.

How to choose a call

LIFE remains one of the strongest funding instruments for environmental and climate initiatives available to Ukrainian applicants. When choosing a call, weigh the project type alongside the thematic fit: standard action projects suit concrete demonstration solutions, strategic projects demand institutional capacity and co-financing, while preparatory technical assistance grants let you enter a large project in stages.