Until 22 April 2026, the European Commission is organising a new DiscoverEU round during which 18-year-olds can apply to win a free train pass to discover. The scheme is meant to give young people a better understanding of other cultures and European history, while improving their foreign language skills at the same time.
The European Commission has once again opened the applications for DiscoverEU, an initiative of the Erasmus+ programme. Young people born between 1 July 2007 and 30 June 2008 can apply until 22 April 2026 at 12:00 CET to obtain their free 30-day travel pass by completing a quiz with five questions about the EU and one additional question on the European Youth Portal.
“DiscoverEU allows young people to experience Europe by rail, discovering new cultures and gaining a deeper understanding of our shared values. For many, this is also their first opportunity to travel independently and connect with people from all over Europe. This application round is coming just ahead of the European Youth Week 2026, where young people will also be able to explore EU opportunities and policies, including DiscoverEU. This year’s edition is dedicated to solidarity and fairness,” said Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport.
What to expect?
Overall, 40,000 passes have been made available. The call is open to applicants from the European Union and countries associated with the Erasmus+ programme, including Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Türkiye. Applicants will receive their pass following their ranking, up to the limit of available tickets.
The 30-day travel pass will be usable between 1 July 2026 and 30 September 2027. Ticket holders can choose to put together their own routes or to be inspired by suggested ones, including the DiscoverEU Culture Route. Moreover, participants will receive a discount card with tens of thousands of discounts on public transport, culture, accommodation, food, sports, and other services in eligible countries. Pre-departure information meetings and DiscoverEU Meet-ups offer participants the possibility to better inform themselves and to meet fellow travellers.
The applications are now OPEN! #DiscoverEU allows 18-year-olds to:
— European Youth ❤️🇪🇺 (@EuropeanYouthEU) April 8, 2026
⭐ Explore the old continent
⭐ Meet fellow young travellers
⭐Learn and grow
Know more info and share the link with someone who needs it!
🔗 https://t.co/2LCkL9c7sa pic.twitter.com/ufsisP3lHn
Since the launch of DiscoverEU by the European Commission in 2018, more than 1.9 million candidates have applied for 431,931 available travel passes. According to a survey amongst the winners of the free train passes, the experience meant the first time travelling abroad by train for 72% of participants. Moreover, some two-thirds of the winners declared that they would not have been able to finance their travel pass without DiscoverEU.
Participants with disabilities, health conditions or from low socio-economic backgrounds are provided with additional support by DicoverEU. Special arrangements are available for young people from islands, outermost regions, overseas countries and territories, and remote areas.
