Call for youth participation at the Gender Equality Forum 2026: Selection criteria, process and timeline

Profile of participants  

For its third Gender Equality Forum, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) aims to engage a young and diverse audience in conversations on how gender equality can shape the EU competitiveness agenda.  

This call is designed for young professionals who are: 

• aged between 18 and 30 years (at the time of application), 

• living in one of the 27 EU Member States (non-EU nationals residing in the EU may also apply), 

• having acquired work experience: employment, traineeship/internship or similar, 

• committed to gender equality as a core principle of the European Union, 

• motivated to participate actively in the Forum sessions and related activities, 

• able to express yourself comfortably in English, and 

• available to attend the Forum in-person in Brussels on 17 November 2026. 

Selection of participants 

The European Institute for Gender Equality will select up to 35 young people for on-site participation at the event venue in Brussels, based on how well they match the profile outlined above and on an assessment of the responses provided in the application form. 

EIGE strives to reach a balanced representation within the selected youth cohort on the lines of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographical, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, disability, religion or belief. We particularly encourage men and non-binary people to apply.  

Candidates will be informed by the end of August 2026 whether their application has been accepted, rejected, or placed on the waiting list.  

We plan to organise two online meetings with the selected cohort:

• The first meeting, tentatively scheduled for September (exact date to be confirmed), will serve as an introductory session to get familiar with the rest of the cohort and your role within the Forum. 

• The second meeting, tentatively planned for October (exact date to be confirmed), will focus on explaining EIGE’s technical requirements for video production and social media content. 

Practical information 

The Forum will take place in Brussels on 17 November 2026. EIGE will reimburse travel expenses and provide accommodation and daily allowances for up to 30 youth participants, in accordance with EIGE’s rules on the reimbursement of experts. 

The daily allowance is intended to cover local transport (including transfers to and from the airport), meals, and other related expenses. Accommodation will be provided in a hotel near the event venue. On the day of the event, lunch will be provided at the venue. 

Timeline