Seasonal Jobs in Europe in 2026: Who Is Hiring and When

What Is Available

The EURES network is running an online job fair dedicated to the 2026 summer season: Seize the Summer with EURES 2026. The event lists 390 jobs and involves 118 participating employers.

Roles cover hospitality, catering, entertainment, outdoor activities, theme parks, travel-related customer service, and other tourism-related sectors. The event is also open to people interested in dancing, acting, fitness, sports, or working with children. Whether you have direct tourism experience or are looking to try something new abroad, the format is built to connect you with employers before the season fills.

Which Countries Are Hiring

The fair covers 11 countries: Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Jobs are focused on the spring and summer season, running from April through to September or October depending on the role and employer. The event spans a broad geographic spread, so candidates can target specific regions or cast a wider net across multiple countries.

Who Can Apply

This event is intended for EU and EFTA nationals. Non-EU-EFTA nationals should be aware that immigration rules apply even if they are already living in an EU or EFTA country. The event notes that it may be very difficult for employers to consider applications from non-EU-EFTA nationals, because visa processing timelines often do not match the fast-moving hiring schedules for seasonal roles.

If you are a non-EU-EFTA national who has legally lived in one EU member state for more than 5 years and holds EU long-term resident status, you may be entitled to equal treatment in that country. Moving to another EU country for work under this status is not automatic - it requires meeting specific conditions set by the destination country, obtaining a residence permit before starting work, and these procedures can be time-consuming.

Key Dates and How to Apply

The jobseeker timeline for the 2026 event:

• Jobseeker registration opens from mid-February 2026
• Upload your CV in English (Europass format is accepted if you need a standard template)
• Apply for specific roles - uploading a CV alone is not enough to appear in employer searches
• Employers schedule online interviews between March 26 and March 31
• Each interview slot is 30 minutes, conducted via Jitsi (no installation required, but test camera and microphone ahead of time)
• The main event day, including live employer chat and sessions, is March 26

The employer registration deadline was March 12.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

1. Apply early. Jobs are posted weeks before the event and employers review applications as they arrive.
2. Write your CV in English. It is the main working language of the event and all job ads are in English.
3. Check whether the role includes accommodation, meals, or relocation support. Employers who offer these list them in their job ads.
4. Research each participating company before your interview slot. Employers expect candidates to know the company's activities and have prepared questions.
5. Dress appropriately even for an online interview - the event guidance specifically mentions this.
6. After your interview slot is confirmed, log in on time. The employer will be waiting at the agreed time in the platform under My job applications.

Interviews are fully online, so geography within the EU or EFTA area is not a barrier during the selection process.