The European Commission has today launched the 2026 call for applications for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowships, with a budget of €399.05 million. These grants enable researchers holding a PhD to carry out their research activities abroad and acquire new skills in different disciplines and sectors. Researchers will benefit from collaboration with leading scientific teams, contributing to the EU’s competitiveness through their cutting-edge research. The call for applications is open from today and will close on 9 September 2026.

Since its inception in 1996, more than 150,000 researchers have participated in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, including 23 Nobel laureates, highlighting their long-standing contribution to scientific excellence and international cooperation.

The call forms part of the more than €1.25 billion allocated to Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions in 2026 under Horizon Europe 2021–2027 to foster excellence in research, as highlighted in the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative. Through this funding, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions will continue to support research through doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, research fellowships and collaborative research projects.