Call for Participation

About the Project Showcase category 

Tell us about an existing or recently finished project or initiative that demonstrates effective bureaucracy hacking in action! Apply to share your project at our Digital Kick-Off on 3-5 March 2026 and at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival on 11 June 2026.  

We are interested in all types of innovations at all levels of government – from improved services to streamlined processes, organisational culture hacks to new participatory governance mechanisms, cross-sector collaboration successes to reframed social problems. We especially welcome projects that show how public sector innovation can contribute to strengthening democracy.  

How are Project Showcases assessed and what happens if I am selected? 

After the Call for Participation closes on 5 December 2025, the jury evaluates submitted projects based on three criteria: Creative Bureaucracy Factor, Relevance & Impact, and Storytelling & Structure. For more information on these criteria, please see our FAQ below. The jury will then choose for the following categories:  

Jury Favourites: The jury will select 6 project showcases (3 DACH and 3 international), the “jury favourites”, that will right away become part of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival programme on 11 June 2026 in Berlin, with travel scholarships provided. The submitting organisation will be notified in February and the jury favourites will be announced during the Digital Kick-Off 

Community Voting: 14 more jury selected project showcases (7 DACH and 7 international) receive the chance to participate in the community voting. Those are invited to create a short video pitch (1-2 Minutes) that will be shared with the festival community leading up to the Digital Kick-Off on 3–5 March 2026. The two projects showcase with the most votes from the community become part of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival programme on 11 June 2026 in Berlin, with travel scholarships provided. For more information on the community voting process, please see the FAQ below.  

Project Selection:  

First Round:  

• 20 Project Showcases –10 Project Showcases for the international programme and 10 Project Showcases for the DACH programme – are selected by the jury to create a short video pitch (1-2 Minutes) to be shared with the festival community leading up to the Digital Kick-Off on 3–5 March 2026. 

Second Round:  

• 8 Projects Showcases – 4 Project Showcases for the international programme and 4 Project Showcases for the DACH programme – are selected by the festival jury (6 projects) and community (2 project) to be announced  atthe Digital Kick-Off (See FAQ below – Community Voting). These projects become part of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival programme on 11 June 2026 in Berlin, with travel scholarships provided. 

Eligibility requirements:  

• The project is currently running or was completed within the last 5 years.
• Public servants must be actively involved. Entries are only accepted from public sector institutions, non-profits, civic organisations, or publicly owned companies. Submissions from private organisations (e.g. for-profit organisations, private consultancies, etc.) are not eligible.
• Submissions may be in English or German. 

Should you have any questions about your eligibility, please feel free to contact us (Link)! 

Important dates for your calendar: 

• 10 December 2025 | Call for Participation closes
• Mid-January 2026 | All entries updated on success
• Mid-February 2026 | Full Digital Kick-Off programme published
• Mid-February 2026 | Deadline for 1–3-minute pitch videos
• 5 March 2026 | Digital Kick-Off: Announcement of the selected projects from the Jury and Community Voting
• 11 June 2026 | 9th Creative Bureaucracy Festival, live in Berlin 

About the Digital Workshop Category 

Share how you empower public changemakers to rewire institutions and strengthen democracy with your imaginative toolbox! Selected entries will host a 90-minute live online workshop during the Digital Kick-Off (3–5 March 2026). 

 How Are Digital Workshops Assessed and What Happens if I Am Selected? 

Our team will assess proposals based on four selection criteria: Creative Bureaucracy Factor, Relevance and Impact, Structure and Storytelling, and Geographic Diversity. Find details in the FAQ below. 

Successful applicants self-host their digital workshop on a platform of their choice. The session will be featured in the Digital Kick-Off programme calendar and promoted jointly through the festival’s communication channels. 

Eligibility Requirements  

• A bold, imaginative, or experimental workshop framing with a clear objective and takeaways.
• Capacity to host a 90-minute online session.
• Entries must come from public sector institutions, non-profits, or publicly owned companies. Applications from private organisations are not eligible.
• Submissions may be in English or German. 

Important Dates 

• 10 December 2025 | Call for Participation closes
• Mid January 2026 | All entries updated on success
• Mid February 2026 | Full Digital Kick-Off programme published
• Late February 2026 | Start campaign to promote your workshop and keep registered participants updated
• 3-5 March 2025 | Digital Kick-Off
• 11 June 2025 | 9th Creative Bureaucracy Festival, live in Berlin 

About the Art & Bureaucracy category 

Tell us about an existing or recently finished project or initiative that explores the intersection of arts and bureaucracy! Selected entries will be invited to present at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin on 11 June 2026. 

We are looking for entries that use artistic practices, creative interventions, or cultural strategies to open up new perspectives on governance. This could include performances, installations, collaborations with public institutions, creative storytelling, or cross-sector projects bringing together artists and public servants. 

How Are Arts & Bureaucracy Entries Assessed and What Happens if I Am Selected? 

After the Call for Participation closes on 5 December 2026, our team will assess proposals based on three selection criteria: Creative Bureaucracy Factor, Relevance and Impact, Artistic Expression and Engagement, and Structure and Storytelling. Find details in the FAQ below. 

Should your entry be selected, you will be invited to showcase your work at the Live Festival in Berlin on 11 June 2026. 

Travel stipends are, unfortunately, not available for this category.  

Eligibility requirements:  

• The project is currently running or was finished within the last 5 years.
• Public servants must be actively involved. Entries are only accepted from public sector institutions, non-profits, civic organisations, or publicly owned companies. Submissions from private organisations (e.g. for profit organisations, private consultancies, etc.) are not eligible.
• Submissions may be in English or German. 

Important dates for your calendar: 

• 10 December 2025 | Call for Participation closes
• Mid-January 2026 | All entries updated on success
• 11 June 2026 | 9th Creative Bureaucracy Festival, live in Berlin 

Submissions are assessed on three main criteria: 

• Creative Bureaucracy Factor – the creativity and innovativeness of the approach in making bureaucracy fit for the future, demonstrated through openness, collaboration across sectors, adaptability, experimentation, and rethinking established concepts. 

For more, see our Definitions of Creative Bureaucracy, download the free book The Creative Bureaucracy & Its Radical Common Sense, or explore past programme examples. 

• Relevance and Impact – the potential to create meaningful and lasting change in public institutions or services, with a clear link between issue, idea, and impact. This includes evidence of results or learnings, transferability to other contexts, and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Structure and Storytelling – the clarity and coherence of how the project is presented, with well-structured content that communicates the issue, idea, and impact in an engaging and inspiring way, while avoiding jargon or buzzwords.
• Artistic Expression and Engagement (Only for Arts & Bureaucracy Category) - the originality and strength of the artistic concept, and how effectively it engages audiences or public institutions to open new perspectives on bureaucracy and democracy. 

Consideration for final selections also include balance across geography, level of government, type of innovation, and topic area. 

• Service innovation – new or improved services for citizens
• Process or culture innovation – new ways of working, operational routines, or organisational culture
• Technological innovation – applying new technologies to streamline bureaucracy
• Conceptual innovation – new ideas or frameworks that shape how we think about bureaucracy and democracy
• Governance innovation – new citizen participation mechanisms or approaches to transparency and accountability
• Systemic innovation – new models for cross-sector collaboration in delivering public services
• Social innovation – addressing social needs and tackling root causes of inequality or exclusion  

No. we only accept entries from public sector institutions, non-profits, civic organizations, publicly owned companies, or private individuals co creating with such organizations.  

Applications from purely private sector organisations or private consultancies, unfortunately, cannot be considered. 

If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us at programme@creativebureaucracy.org

Projects must be currently running or completed within the past five years. 

Yes, you may submit up to two proposals. 

• Project Showcase – highlights innovative public sector projects. 20 projects per language (10 international, 10 DACH) will be selected to prepare a short video for the Digital Kick-Off (3–5 March 2026, online). From these, 8 projects (4 international, 4 DACH) will be chosen through the jury and Community Voting to present live at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival on 11 June 2026 in Berlin, with travel scholarships provided.
• Digital Workshop – offers an interactive, 90-minute online session during the Digital Kick-Off (3-5 March 2026), where applicants share tools, methods, or practices that empower public changemakers.
• Art & Bureaucracy – explores how artistic practices, creative interventions, or cultural strategies can open up new perspectives on bureaucracy. Selected directly by the festival team, these projects are presented live in Berlin on 11 June 2026. 

Community Voting is an online process held in the lead-up to and during the Digital Kick-Off (3–5 March 2026). The Creative Bureaucracy community watches the shortlisted Project Showcase video pitches and votes for their favourite. The voting platform is open to everyone. The top-voted project in each language will be invited to present live at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin on 11 June 2026. 

All applicants will be notified of their status by mid-january 2026. 

Project Showcase – 20 projects per language (10 international, 10 DACH) will be selected by our jury to prepare a short video for the Digital Kick-Off (3–5 March 2026, online). pplicants prepare a short 1-3 minute video pitch to be shared on the festival’s online channels leading up to the Digital Kick Off From these, 8 projects (4 international, 4 DACH) will be chosen through the jury and Community Voting to present live at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival on 11 June 2026 in Berlin, with travel scholarships provided. 

Digital Workshop – Selected applicants will prepare and host their interactive 90-minute workshop during the Digital Kick-Off on 3–5 March 2026. 

Art & Bureaucracy – this category does not have a shortlisting process. Selected applicants do not take part in the Digital Kick-Off. Instead, they will work with the Creative Bureaucracy team to prepare their presentation for the live festival in Berlin on 11 June 2026. 

A small number of Project Showcase winners will receive travel stipends: 

• 3 Jury Favourites (per language) – directly invited to Berlin with travel supported. 
• 1 Community Voting Winner (per language) – also invited to Berlin with travel supported. 

In total, 4 Project Showcase winners per language will receive a travel stipend.  

*Travel stipends are not available for selected Digital Workshop or Art & Bureaucracy projects. 

The Digital Kick-Off (3–5 March 2026) is the online pre-event of the Creative Bureaucracy Festival. Over three days, it features a rich programme of Digital Workshops hosted by innovators from around the world, offering participants the chance to explore methods, tools, and fresh approaches to bureaucracy in an interactive format. 

As part of the programme, shortlisted Project Showcase videos are presented to the Creative Bureaucracy community for jury and community voting. On the final day, the selected projects will be announced and invited to present live at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin on 11 June 2026.