# EPSO 2026 competition calendar: all competitions and deadlines
URL: https://eu-now.com/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026
Published: 2026-06-16 · Updated: 2026-10-07
Category: EPSO News
Tags: calendario EPSO, concorsi UE 2026, scadenze, AD5, AD7, CAST
All EPSO 2026 competitions: AD5 (1,490 posts), AD7 ICT and Audit, CAST Permanent and announced competitions. References, vacancies, deadlines and test dates. Updated 2026.
## Key takeaways
- The largest competition of 2026 is the generalist AD5 (EPSO/AD/427/26): 1,490 positions, applications close on March 10, tests in autumn 2026
- Two specialist AD7 competitions: ICT (EPSO/AD/429/26, 782 posts across 4 fields) and Audit (EPSO/AD/428/26, 448 posts)
- The CAST Permanent is a continuous registration with no deadline: you register for a database and are selected in waves.
- Two more are now open: IT experts AD8 in AI and cybersecurity (EPSO/AD/430/26, until 13 October 2026) and AST 3 data management (EPSO/AST/158/26, until 11 November 2026); the lawyer-linguist competitions are announced but not yet published
- Dates may change: always check eu-careers.europa.eu and your candidate account for official updates
## 2026 is an intense year for EU competitions

After years of reduced volumes, 2026 marks a strong recovery in recruitment within the European institutions. Between generalist and specialist competitions, as well as continuous registrations, there are many opportunities — but each has its own window, requirements, and dates.

This guide gathers all 2026 EPSO competitions with official references, number of vacancies, and deadlines. **An important premise:** competition dates may change, and competitions that have been announced but not yet published do not have definitive dates. Always check the official source before planning.

## Competitions published in 2026

| Competition | Reference | Positions | Applications | Tests |
|----------|-------------|-------|-------------|------|
| AD5 Generalists | EPSO/AD/427/26 | 1,490 | 5 Feb – 10 Mar 2026 (closed) | Autumn 2026 |
| AD7 Audit | EPSO/AD/428/26 | 448 | 14 Apr – 19 May 2026 (closed) | Autumn 2026 |
| AD7 ICT | EPSO/AD/429/26 | 782 | 6 May – 10 Jun 2026 (closed) | Autumn 2026 |
| CAST Permanent | (continuous registration) | — | Always open | Periodic sessions |

### AD5 — Generalist Administrators (EPSO/AD/427/26)

The benchmark competition of the year: **1,490 positions** for recent graduates in any field of study. Applications were open from 5 February to 10 March 2026, with a record number of applicants. Pre-selection tests will take place remotely in autumn 2026. This is the standard entry point for those with a degree and no required experience.

### AD7 Audit (EPSO/AD/428/26)

Specialist competition for **448 positions** in the field of audit, at AD7 level. Applications were open from 14 April to 19 May 2026. Requires a relevant degree + experience. *(The number of positions comes from sources citing the call for applications: check the official text for confirmation.)*

### AD7 ICT (EPSO/AD/429/26)

Specialist competition for IT experts: **782 positions** across 4 fields, for which candidates apply individually:

| Field | Positions |
|-------|-------|
| ICT Infrastructure | 204 |
| ICT Project Management | 228 |
| Cloud and Networks | 166 |
| Data Science | 184 |

Applications were open from 6 May to 10 June 2026, with tests in autumn 2026. Requires a degree + 5-9 years of ICT experience depending on the qualification.

### CAST Permanent

This is not a competition with a deadline, but a **continuous registration**. Profiles are sought in areas such as finance, project management, human resources, communication, law, IT, and administrative support. You register in a database and are selected in waves. Tests take place in periodic sessions throughout the year.

![Calendar with the EU competition dates highlighted](/photos/blog/calendario-date.webp)
*The major competitions are concentrated in 2026: AD5, AD7 ICT and Audit, in addition to the always open CAST.*

## Announced competitions (details not yet published)

EPSO has announced further procedures for 2026 on the official "Upcoming opportunities" page. For these, the profile is known, but **the reference, number of vacancies, or dates are not yet available** — and the indicated months may change. Two of them have since been published and are marked as open below:

- **IT Experts — AD8 (EPSO/AD/430/26)** (Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity) — **now open**: notice published on 8 September 2026, applications until 13 October 2026 at 12:00 (midday) Brussels time; 240 places in artificial intelligence and 254 in cybersecurity.
- **Data management — AST 3 (EPSO/AST/158/26)** — **now open**: notice published on 6 October 2026, applications until 11 November 2026 at 12:00 (midday) Brussels time. Three fields: data processing, analytics and statistics (423 places), librarianship and information science (243) and records and archives management (298). Guides: [data and statistics](/blog/epso-ast-158-data-analytics-statistics-guide) · [librarianship](/blog/epso-ast-158-librarianship-guide) · [records and archives](/blog/epso-ast-158-records-archives-guide).
- **Lawyer-Linguists, Court of Justice — AD** — 2026, date to be defined.
- **Lawyer-Linguists, Parliament / Council / Commission — AD** — 2026, date to be defined.
Other profiles (IT experts in multiple fields, assistants for a parliamentary body, lawyers in multiple fields) appear in EPSO plans but are expected for **2027**, not 2026.

**Not confirmed for 2026:** a competition dedicated to translators is planned for 2027, not 2026; currently, only lawyer-linguists are announced for 2026.

## How to stay updated

EPSO competition dates are subject to change, and announced competitions may be postponed. To avoid missing deadlines:

1. **Create an account** on eu-careers.europa.eu.
2. **Regularly check** the "Upcoming selection procedures" and current competition pages.
3. **Trust only official sources** for final dates: the notice in the Official Journal (EUR-Lex) and the competition page on eu-careers. Notifications regarding your competitions are sent via your candidate account.

To prepare for the biggest competition of the year, read the [complete guide to the EPSO 2026 competition](/blog/concorso-epso-2026-guida-completa) and find out [which EPSO competition is right for you](/blog/ad5-ad7-ast-cast-quale-scegliere). To practice, we look forward to seeing you in the [EU·Now practice section](/practice).

![Person checking deadlines on a digital calendar](/photos/blog/calendario-agenda.webp)
*Dates may change: the only reliable sources are the official notice on EUR-Lex and the competition page on eu-careers.*

## In summary

2026 offers many entry points:

1. **AD5** (1,490 positions) — the benchmark generalist competition.
2. **AD7 ICT** (782) and **Audit** (448) — the specialist competitions.
3. **CAST Permanent** — registration always open.
4. **Now open:** IT AD8 (until 13 October 2026) and AST 3 data management (until 11 November 2026); **announced:** lawyer-linguists — details coming soon.

Dates may change: EPSO is the only definitive source.
## FAQ
### Which EPSO competitions are open or planned for 2026?
In 2026, the main competitions are: AD5 generalist (EPSO/AD/427/26, 1,490 positions, applications closed on March 10); AD7 Audit (EPSO/AD/428/26, 448 positions, applications closed on May 19); AD7 ICT (EPSO/AD/429/26, 782 positions, applications closed on June 10). The CAST Permanent is always open as a continuous registration. Two more are now open: AD8 IT experts in AI and cybersecurity (EPSO/AD/430/26, applications until 13 October 2026) and AST 3 data management (EPSO/AST/158/26, until 11 November 2026). EPSO has also announced lawyer-linguist competitions for 2026, for which details are not yet known.
### When will the AD5 2026 competition tests take place?
The pre-selection tests for AD5 2026 are scheduled for autumn 2026. Applications closed on 10 March 2026; eligible candidates will take the tests (reasoning, EU knowledge, digital skills, and EUFTE) remotely. The reserve list will be published in 2027, and recruitment by the institutions will take place between 2027 and 2029. Exact dates are communicated via the candidate account on the EPSO portal.
### How many vacancies are available for the ICT AD7 2026 competition and how are they divided?
The ICT AD7 2026 competition (EPSO/AD/429/26) offers a total of 782 positions, divided into 4 fields for which candidates apply individually: ICT Infrastructure (204 positions), ICT Project Management (228 positions), Cloud and Networks (166 positions), and Data Science (184 positions). Applications closed on 10 June 2026, with tests scheduled for autumn 2026. These figures are taken from the OJ C/2026/2425 notice: always check the official text for confirmation.
### Does the CAST Permanent have an expiry date?
No. CAST Permanent is a continuous registration with no expiry date: you sign up for a candidate database (updating your profile every 6 months to remain visible) and institutions select you in waves as needs arise. Tests are held in periodic sessions throughout the year. Passing the reasoning tests is valid for 10 years, while competency tests are valid for 5 years. Registration does not guarantee a position: it is a pool from which institutions recruit.
### Will there be a competition for translators or lawyer-linguists in 2026?
EPSO has announced competitions for lawyer-linguists for 2026 (for the Court of Justice and for Parliament/Council/Commission), but as of the date of this guide, the notices specifying references, number of vacancies, and deadlines have not yet been published. A competition dedicated to translators has not been confirmed for 2026. Keep an eye on the 'Upcoming opportunities' page of eu-careers.europa.eu: details (and dates) may change.
### How can I avoid missing EPSO competition deadlines?
Create an account on eu-careers.europa.eu and regularly check the 'Upcoming selection procedures' page as well as the one for ongoing competitions. Official communications regarding your competitions are sent via your candidate account. The dates announced in EPSO plans are indicative and may shift by several months: the only reliable source for final deadlines is the official notice published in the Official Journal of the EU (EUR-Lex) and the competition page on eu-careers.
## Official sources
- EU Careers — Upcoming selection procedures: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/upcoming-selection-procedures
- EU Careers — Job opportunities (competitions in progress): https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/job-opportunities/in-progress
- EUR-Lex — Bando ICT EPSO/AD/429/26 (OJ C/2026/2425): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2026/2425/oj/eng
- EU Careers — Apply ICT competition AD7: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/apply-ict-competition-ad7

## This article in other languages
- French: https://eu-now.com/fr/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026/llms.txt
- German: https://eu-now.com/de/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026/llms.txt
- Spanish: https://eu-now.com/es/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026/llms.txt
- Italian: https://eu-now.com/it/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026/llms.txt

Source of record: https://eu-now.com/blog/calendario-concorsi-epso-2026 — published by EU-now (eu-now.com), which is not EPSO and not affiliated with the European Commission.