Com’ON Cluj-Napoca 2026, the participatory budgeting programme dedicated to young people, has officially launched. Young people aged 14 to 27 who live, study, or work in Cluj-Napoca are invited to submit ideas that benefit the local community. The people of Cluj will decide through an online public vote which initiatives deserve support. The 50 ideas receiving the most votes will be awarded funding of up to RON 5,000 each to bring their projects to life.
The call for ideas is open from 19 June to 15 July 2026.
The programme aims to increase young people’s civic engagement by providing an accessible and informal framework through which they can actively contribute to the development of their city.
Young people aged 14–27 who live, study, or work in Cluj-Napoca are eligible to apply. Participation is open to informal teams of at least three members and requires nothing more than a good idea and the motivation to make a difference.
Teams can submit their community projects until 15 July 2026 via www.comoncluj.ro. Proposed activities must engage the local community directly and be free and accessible to everyone.
This year’s motto is “LET’S DO WELL TOGETHER!” The programme focuses on wellbeing, young people’s quality of life, learning opportunities, future prospects, and youth participation in civic life. Submitted ideas should reflect these themes and contribute positively to the Cluj community.
After the application period closes, all proposals will go through a technical review. This will be followed by a public online vote taking place between 28 July and 18 August 2026. Anyone over the age of 14 who lives, studies, or works in Cluj-Napoca will be able to vote.
To encourage diverse and equitable participation, this year’s edition includes three dedicated tracks:
- Connect Track – for teams that feel they face barriers or circumstances that may limit their access to resources, support networks, or equal opportunities to mobilise during the public voting process.
- Teen Track – for teams made up exclusively of young people aged 14–18.
- Open Track – for all other eligible teams.
Each team may submit one idea, and one person may be a member of up to two informal teams. Teams composed of young people aged 14–18 may have an adult mentor who supports their work, although mentors are not official team members.
No previous experience or special qualifications are required to participate. Teams that need support developing or submitting their ideas can turn to the Com’ON facilitators: https://comoncluj.ro/facilitatori
The 2025 edition of Com’ON Cluj-Napoca once again demonstrated the programme’s impact on the community. Out of 123 ideas submitted by young people, 52 were implemented following a public vote in which more than 4,300 residents took part, casting over 19,000 votes.
Last year’s projects included concerts and exhibitions by young artists, first-aid courses, sewing workshops promoting sustainable fashion, awareness campaigns on HPV infection, tree-planting initiatives, projects proposed by young people from Cluj’s Ukrainian community, events for young people with disabilities, physiotherapy workshops, eco-soap making from recycled cooking oil, plastic waste collection campaigns, and many more.
The full calendar, regulations, and additional information about Com’ON Cluj-Napoca 2026 are available at www.comoncluj.ro.
The Com’ON programme was launched by the PONT Group in 2015, when Cluj-Napoca held the title of European Youth Capital. Since then, the initiative has expanded to schools in Cluj-Napoca and to other cities across Romania, including Sfântu Gheorghe, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Vaslui, and Satu Mare. In 2026, Com’ON x Zbor is being implemented nationwide through the Zbor România hubs, in partnership with Zbor România and the PONT Group, with support from BCR.
Com’ON Cluj-Napoca 2026 is implemented by the PONT Group in partnership with the Cluj Youth Federation (FTC). The programme is funded by the Cluj-Napoca City Hall and Local Council, while the development of Com’ON Cluj-Napoca is supported by Fondation Botnar.