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Writing and Translation Grants in the EU

Currently 9 active writing and translation grants, fellowships and residencies open to applicants in the EU. Hand-curated and updated weekly. Almost every entry is funded; a few notable unpaid open calls and festival submissions are included as clearly flagged exceptions. Browse the list below, or use the interactive desk for filtering and shortlisting.

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Open calls

  1. Giancarlo DiTrapano Foundation: The Finch Manuscript Lab 2026

    The Giancarlo DiTrapano Foundation for Literature and the Arts · Finch Country House, Serramezzana, Italy; open to legal residents of the 39 Culture Moves Europe eligible countries, excluding Italy · Deadline: 10 Jul 2026 · Award: EUR 2,280 stipend for the residency period (EUR 30 per day in residence, paid weekly), plus travel allowance of EUR 400 (under 5,000 km) or EUR 800 (over 5,000 km), an additional EUR 400 green-travel top-up (e.g. trains instead of planes), and EUR 200 additional support for parents of children under 18. Supported by the Goethe Institute and Culture Moves Europe.

    The Finch Manuscript Lab is a 2.5-month residency supporting writers completing book-length manuscripts, hosted at the Finch Country House in Serramezzana, Italy, and designed as the final sprint in the marathon of writing a book. It offers living and work space, writing time in a tranquil setting, creative community, and professional development including manuscript consultations, craft discussions, and publishing seminars. Residency dates: 1 October to 15 December 2026; residents will be selected by 30 July 2026. FUNDING: thanks to the support of the Goethe Institute and Culture Moves Europe, all selected residents receive a stipend of EUR 2,280 for the residency period (EUR 30 per day in residence, paid weekly), a travel allowance of EUR 400 for distances under 5,000 km from Serramezzana or EUR 800 for distances over 5,000 km, an additional EUR 400 for green travel (e.g. taking trains instead of planes), and additional support of EUR 200 for parents of children under 18. ELIGIBILITY: applicants must be over 18 and a legal resident of one of the 39 Culture Moves Europe eligible countries, excluding Italy; this includes all EU member states other than Italy and 13 participating non-EU countries (Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Tunisia). APPLICATION (via Submittable, in order of importance): a short sample of past work (any length, though only the first 30 pages may be read); a brief note, up to one page, explaining the manuscript or book project to be worked on in residency, where you are in the creation process, and why you are interested; an excerpt of the book project not exceeding 30 pages (prose, poetry, mixed media, photography, or any other form of artist's book is acceptable); and a CV in English. NOTE ON DEADLINE: the foundation's text gives the open call as 15 June to 10 July 2026, while the Submittable page lists a close of Wednesday 15 July 2026 at 12:00 PM; apply by 10 July to be safe.

  2. Jan Michalski Foundation: Writers Residency 2027

    Jan Michalski Foundation for Writing and Literature · Montricher, Switzerland (Swiss Jura, near Lausanne and Geneva) · Deadline: 31 Aug 2026 · Award: Weekly allowance of CHF 400, plus travel costs to and from home covered, accommodation in a private cabin, and breakfast and lunch provided. Electric bikes and library access included.

    Residency for writers and translators at the Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher, Switzerland, set in seven distinctive 'cabin' modules hanging from an openwork canopy, offering conditions to start, continue or finish a writing project. Around forty authors from around the world (emerging to established) are hosted each year. Open to all kinds of writing and all languages, with priority given to literary writers and translators; other disciplines are welcome as long as literature is at the heart of the project. Residencies are for individuals or pairs working on a common project (e.g. a writer and a translator). A percentage of residencies are dedicated to nature writing. WHAT IS PROVIDED: a private cabin for independent living (a separate cabin per person for pairs; one accessible cabin for reduced mobility), travel costs to and from home, a weekly allowance of CHF 400, breakfast and lunch, electric bikes, and daytime library access. ELIGIBILITY: no age or nationality restrictions; beginners accepted; one application per year; former residents may not reapply (families, children and pets cannot be accommodated). Stays cannot be split into multiple periods. Selection is by a panel chaired by Vera Michalski-Hoffmann, assessing the literary quality of the project, the candidate's background, and whether the stay length matches the project scope. APPLICATION: online in English or French (work excerpts may be in any language); the 2027 form is open 2 June to 31 August 2026; selected candidates announced December 2026.

  3. Comic Creation Grant

    Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) · Switzerland-based comic creators. · Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 · Award: Maximum CHF 25,000. No application fee.

    Pro Helvetia's comic creation grant supports the development of comic projects intended for publication, including digital formats. Applicants must have published at least one independent work with a professional publisher or the equivalent in magazines. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland); not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. AMOUNT: maximum CHF 25,000. Submission deadline 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.

  4. Emerging Authors: Frankfurter Seilschaften

    Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) · Emerging authors with a connection to Switzerland; also open to professional writers who identify as FINTA. · Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 · Award: Hotel and travel expenses, per diems, and trade fair passes (amounts not specified). No application fee.

    Frankfurter Seilschaften is a Pro Helvetia mentoring initiative pairing emerging Swiss literary practitioners with established authors during the Frankfurt Book Fair. To be eligible as an emerging author, applicants must have completed their artistic training or presented their work publicly for the first time within the last five years; the call also includes professional writers who identify as FINTA. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland); not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. WHAT IS OFFERED: hotel and travel expenses, per diems, and trade fair passes. Submission deadline 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.

  5. Literary Creation Grant

    Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) · Switzerland-based authors and collectives. · Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 · Award: Up to CHF 25,000 (writing), CHF 18,000 (theatre texts), or CHF 15,000 (performative literary projects). No application fee.

    Pro Helvetia's literary creation grant supports the development of literary projects intended for publication, including fiction, children's and youth literature, poetry, drama, and spoken word. Applicants must have prior published work, a premiere, or professional performances. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland); not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. AMOUNT: up to CHF 25,000 for writing, CHF 18,000 for theatre texts, or CHF 15,000 for performative literary projects. Deadlines twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.

  6. Writing in Residency

    Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) · Switzerland-based authors and translators; residencies at partner locations abroad (e.g. Traduki in Southeast Europe, Art Omi). · Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 · Award: Travel and accommodation costs (vary by destination); childcare support up to CHF 1,000 per month for applicants with caregiving responsibilities. No application fee.

    Pro Helvetia's Writing in Residency programme provides residency opportunities (for example Traduki in Southeast Europe or Art Omi) for authors and translators to develop or research projects. Applicants must have prior professionally published work. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland); not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. WHAT IS OFFERED: travel and accommodation costs (varying by destination), plus childcare support of up to CHF 1,000 per month for applicants with caregiving responsibilities. Submission deadline 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.

  7. International Promotion: Institutions in Switzerland (Literature)

    Pro Helvetia (Swiss Arts Council) · Event organizers, publishing houses, professional associations, and digital platforms based in Switzerland. · Deadline: 01 Sep 2026 · Award: Maximum CHF 25,000. No application fee.

    Pro Helvetia's international promotion grant (Switzerland-based institutions variant) funds the international promotion of contemporary Swiss literature through book fairs, group publisher appearances, and literary festivals. Open to event organizers, publishing houses, professional associations, and digital platforms based in Switzerland with regular artistic activity there. ELIGIBILITY: requires a connection to Switzerland (Swiss citizenship, or permanent residency with regular artistic activity in Switzerland); not open to practitioners without a Swiss connection. AMOUNT: maximum CHF 25,000. Deadlines twice a year: 1 March (23:59 CET) and 1 September (23:59 CEST). Apply via the Pro Helvetia portal.

  8. Translation House Looren: Translators' Residencies and Pro Helvetia Stipends 2027

    Uebersetzerhaus Looren · Wernetshausen, Switzerland (Zurich region) · Deadline: 15 Oct 2026 · Award: Free residency stay (apartments at the translation house). Six competitive CHF 4,000 translation grants per year, each tied to a one-month residency. Pro Helvetia residency programme separately funded. James Joyce Scholarship and Looren Residency 2027 has its own conditions. No application fee.

    Translators' residency at Uebersetzerhaus Looren in Wernetshausen near Zurich. Looren offers a free residency for literary translators with a current contract, including six competitive CHF 4,000 stipend grants per year tied to one-month residencies. The Pro Helvetia residency programme (separately funded) has a 2026-10-15 deadline for 2027 stays. The James Joyce Scholarship and Looren Residency 2027 closes 2026-10-31. General free residencies are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. ELIGIBILITY: literary translators with substantial published work and a current translation contract; any language combination is welcome. Apply via the application page on looren.net. No application fee.

  9. The Stinging Fly: Open Submissions (Creative Nonfiction)

    The Stinging Fly · Dublin, Ireland (international submissions) · Deadline: 23 Nov 2026 · Award: Paid on acceptance: nonfiction approx. EUR 50/page (minimum EUR 375, maximum EUR 1,250). No submission fee.

    Leading Irish literary magazine that publishes and pays for creative nonfiction (as well as fiction and poetry), with a stated particular interest in promoting new and emerging writers. A clean, no-fee, internationally-open outlet for a standalone critical/creative-nonfiction piece. ELIGIBILITY: Irish and international writers; debut-friendly, no published-book requirement. Submissions are accepted in specific windows; the next nonfiction window runs Monday 9 November to Monday 23 November 2026 (closes 5pm Irish time) for the Summer 2027 issue.