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Applications are open for the Presitigous 2026 EU-Qantas Journalist Awards?

Delegation of the European Union to Australia

Key Facts:
  • EU-Qantas Journalist Award offers a ten-day working visit to Europe in 2026, including business class flights and expenses for the winning Australia-based journalist
  • Award is open to journalists with 3+ years' experience in Australian media, requiring a proposal for reporting on European themes relevant to Australian audiences
  • Travel must be via direct flight to Paris or Rome between June-October 2026, with ticketing completed by end of June 2026
  • Applicants must submit a proposal, three recent work examples, and employer's written recommendation by 15 May 2026
  • Selection criteria focus on proposal theme, originality and innovation, with submissions accepted through the National Press Club of Australia

The EU has again partnered with Qantas and the National Press Club Australia to deliver the 2026 Qantas Journalist Awards, which will see the awarded journalist travel to Europe on a ten-day working visit, thanks to Qantas. 

Since 1992, the EU-Qantas Journalist Awards have recognised exceptional journalism in Australia.   

The award invites the winning journalist to fly business class to the EU and up to 3 Member States for ten days. The EU Delegation will assist in developing a program and interviews with EU experts, while travel and expenses will be covered by Qantas.   

The trip must be ticketed by the end of June 2026, and applicants should complete the program before the end of 2026.    

*Travel must occur via direct flight to Paris or Rome between June and October 2026.  

Eligibility  

The award is open to Australia-based journalists with 3+ years’ experience in Australian media.  

As part of the application, journalists will be required to propose why they would benefit from a ten-day working trip to Europe.   

We invite journalists to send in a proposal, with a supporting letter by their editors, that pitches several reporting pieces focused on European themes of interest to Australian audiences. The pieces can be published during and following their return from the ten-day working visit. 

The subjects of the project proposal are open to interests of the journalist, and the proposed program must be based on current European-Australian themes. A summary report on resultant coverage must also be provided following the visit.   

How to apply  

Applicants must submit:  

  • their proposal,  
  • three examples of published work from the previous 12 months,   
  • their employer's written recommendation and confirmation to participate in the program.  

Selection is based primarily on the proposal’s theme and how the project explores the topic. Originality and innovation are highly valued, and multimedia packages are welcome.  

Journalists should outline the media platforms they will publish/broadcast on in the proposal, including any use of social media.  

 

Deadline for applications: 15 May 2026  

Apply via the National Press Club of Australia: https://npc.org.au/journalism-awards/2025-european-union-qantas-journalism-award


About us:

 

 


Contact details:

For further information, please contact Victoria KELLY-CLARK:  

E-Mail: [email protected]