FY 2026 English Access Scholarship Program

The English Access Scholarship Program (Access) leverages American English to build English language capacity with strategic audiences through in-person programming and exchanges in the United States. The program promotes economic self-reliance which strengthens American national security and economic prosperity. Access showcases U.S. educational excellence, demonstrates U.S. educational technology, and promotes opportunities for American business partnerships. The FY 2026 Access Program will support approximately 7,000 participants globally. Programming may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid and occur in-country, in the region, or in the United States. ECA anticipates that the majority of the award costs will be for program activities detailed across three program components. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional information.

Program Details

Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs is a federal agency that offers the FY 2026 English Access Scholarship Program grant program to support arts and cultural programs. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for arts and cultural programs should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include eligible organizations, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Funding available: $12.5M. Applications are due by May 1, 2026. Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds.

Program Focus

This grant supports arts and cultural programs. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 611310, 711. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for.

GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by ECA

Award details

Award range: $12.5M. Applications close on May 1, 2026.

Categories

Arts Culture