• Mobility

Cultural Mobility Yearbook 2026

What can open calls tell us about the state of cultural mobility today? The fifth edition of On the Move’s Cultural Mobility Yearbook, written by Claire Wilson and published in 2026, offers an in-depth look at the mobility opportunities shared through the On the Move platform throughout 2025. Drawing on 573 open calls connected to 118 countries and territories, the Yearbook analyses trends in residencies, fellowships, meetings, training programmes and other funded opportunities for artists and cultural professionals. While it does not claim to capture the entire mobility landscape, it provides a valuable snapshot of current patterns, priorities and gaps in international cultural exchange. This year’s edition places a particular focus on the European Union’s neighbouring countries, exploring the role of European-based organisations and EU co-funding in supporting mobility opportunities involving countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon and others. Through both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the Yearbook helps readers better understand how cultural mobility is evolving, where support is concentrated, and what this means for artists and culture professionals working across borders today.

This fourth edition of the Cultural Mobility Yearbook continues On the Move’s ongoing analysis of trends, opportunities and challenges in the field of international cultural mobility. Since its first edition, the Yearbook has explored how artists and cultural professionals are adapting to changing conditions, from the rise of digital mobility after the Covid-19 pandemic, to the growing importance of environmental sustainability, and the role of training and professional development in shaping the future of the sector.

Across previous editions, one recurring finding has emerged: the cultural mobility sector is full of experimentation, creativity and willingness to rethink how cross-border work can happen. At the same time, artists and culture professionals often lack the resources, structures and support needed to fully transform the ways they travel, collaborate and work internationally.

This edition focuses on young and emerging art workers, looking at the specific opportunities and barriers they face at the beginning of their careers. Building on previous areas of analysis, including digital mobility and environmental sustainability, the Yearbook examines how mobility opportunities are designed, who they are intended for, and how terms such as “young” and “emerging” are defined across different calls.

In 2024, 84 calls published on the On the Move website referred specifically to “young” or “emerging” artists and culture professionals, while a further 37 calls mentioned “emerging” while also remaining open to mid-career or more experienced applicants. As On the Move does not have a separate category for emerging artists, these opportunities were identified through keyword searches, offering insight into the different ways organisations understand career stage, age, experience and professional development.

The report first presents an overview of cultural mobility opportunities in 2024, before turning to a more focused analysis of the conditions, definitions and challenges affecting young and emerging art workers. In doing so, it aims to contribute to a broader reflection on how mobility opportunities can become more accessible, inclusive and meaningful for those entering the cultural field today.