European Parliament Sakharov Fully Funded Fellowship 2026
Applicant criteria
- 7 - 60
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
The Sakharov Fellowship is a fully funded professional fellowship organized by the European Parliament.
It is designed to support human rights defenders, activists, and civil society actors by strengthening their skills in human rights advocacy, policy engagement, and international cooperation.
The fellowship is inspired by the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and provides participants with direct exposure to European institutions and human rights networks.
Location: Brussels and another EU Member State
Format: In-person
Program dates: 7 – 20 June 2026
Applications open: January 2026
Application deadline: 15 February 2026 (23:59 CET)
Notification of results: By early March 2026
Fellowship Focus
Human rights advocacy and protection
Leadership and capacity building
Engagement with European institutions
Networking with international human rights actors
Benefits
The fellowship is fully funded and typically covers:
International travel
Accommodation
Living expenses
Program and training costs
Eligibility criteria
Applicants should:
Be human rights defenders, activists, or civil society representatives
Demonstrate active involvement in human rights work
Come from non-EU countries (priority may be given to defenders at risk)
Be able to participate fully in the fellowship program
Open to applicants from all countries, subject to eligibility criteria.