The European Union Qantas Journalist Award 2026: Applications Open

The European Union Qantas Journalist Award—run in partnership with the National Press Club—has sponsored outstanding Australian journalism since 1992. The award offers a unique opportunity for Australian journalists to take their work global, with the winner traveling to Europe to explore fresh perspectives and uncover stories that matter to Australia. With the support of Qantas, the winner will fly Business Class to Europe to research and report on a topic of their choice focused on the European Union—turning curiosity into compelling, international journalism.

The Delegation of the European Union to Australia will also support the award by helping set up meetings with high level European counterparts and provide the winner with a stipend for the trip.

About the EU and Qantas Journalist Award

The award comes at a critical juncture in global geopolitics and follows the rapid advancement of bilateral relations between the EU and Australia, with the two like-minded partners working more closely than ever to advance shared interests and uphold the rules-based international order.

The award is open to all Australian journalists who have three or more years of experience in the Australian media and can prove that they would benefit from a working visit to the European Union (Brussels and up to three European Union Member States).

We invite journalists to send in a proposal, supported by their editors, that pitches up to four reporting pieces focused on European themes of interest to Australian audiences. The pitches can be multimedia in nature and must be published either during or following their return from the ten-day working visit to Europe.

The proposal can reflect the interests of the journalist, and the proposed program must be based on current EU-Australian themes.

A summary report on resultant coverage must also be provided following the visit.

Deadline for applications: COB, Friday, 15th May 2026

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