Nominations open for the sixth edition of the the New European Bauhaus Awards and the second edition of the N.E.B. Boost for Small Municipalities. We invite the pioneers to present sound, sustainable and inclusive projects that have the potential to bring positive changes to people’s lives, promote innovation and participation.
Sixth edition of the N.E.B Awards: Pioneering the Future
A total of 13 winners will be awarded in 2026, including two public awards, a special water resilience award and international awards. Each winning project will receive up to 20,000 euros, while another 14 runners-up will receive 5,000 euros each.
Several novelties have been introduced in the 2026 awards, demonstrating the growing interest that these awards are arousing:
- Spotlight on water: introduction of the special Water Resilience Award, which awards €20,000 to a project or idea that can address water-related challenges;
- Acceleration program for samples and rising stars: Finalists will benefit from personalized coaching, strategic orientation and communication support, ensuring that their projects thrive beyond financial recognition.
New categories: the four thematic categories of the awards have been revised to reflect the Commission’s plan for the future of the New European Bauhaus, i.e.:
- Improving circularity, sustainability and innovation
- Strengthening local democracy and inclusion
- Arts, culture and heritage as drivers of change
- Enabling factors for the transformation of the New European Bauhaus
N.E.B. Boost for small municipalities: strengthening local communities
After the success of last year's first edition, N.E.B. Boost returns even stronger to reward and financially support 20 projects that take place in rural settings or in communities with less than 20,000 inhabitants. Eligible projects must focus on the built environment, including the construction, renovation and adaptation of buildings and public spaces.
These projects should prioritise circularity, carbon neutrality, preservation of cultural heritage, affordable housing solutions and regeneration of rural or urban areas.
The 20 N.E.B. Boost winners will each receive a award of 30,000 Euro and one communication package personalised by the Commission to further amplify their results towards all communities in Europe.
How to apply
Nominations for the N.E.B. 2026 Awards and the N.E.B. Boost for Small Municipalities 2026 Awards are open until 17 March 2026 at 19:00 CET.
Nominations for both awards must be submitted through the platform official the New European Bauhaus Awards. All details of the application procedure can be found in the respective Guides for Candidates available on the platform.
Projects finalists the NEB 2026 Awards announced during the third edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival, to be held from 9 to 13 June this year, while the winners They will be revealed during a ceremony dedicated the NEB Awards in autumn 2026.
Background
The New European Bauhaus is an EU policy and funding initiative that makes the transition to a clean built environment attractive to all. The initiative calls on everyone to reshape our future and make it sustainable, beautiful and inclusive, promoting positive and inclusive experiences.
Launched in 2021 as a follow-up the State of the Union Address delivered by the President in 2020, the New European Bauhaus has become a vibrant community of beyond 2000 members across Europe and beyond, with more than 700 NEB projects supported until today. Under the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, funds have been allocated to: €1.4 billion for NEB, most of which come from cohesion policy (over €840 million) and Horizon Europe (over €530 million). It has become a key driver for the implementation of the European Green Deal and the Clean Industrial Deal at local level, linking innovation, design, architecture, culture and social inclusion.
Through the annual NEB Awards, the initiative highlights concrete solutions that demonstrate how communities can live in a more sustainable and enjoyable way, while ensuring affordability and social fairness. During five editions, the NEB Awards gave visibility to projects and ideas from across the EU, the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Since 2021, they have been received more than 5700 applications e 94 winners They split up beyond 2 million of Euros of funding.
For further information
New European Bauhaus Awards Platform
New European Bauhaus Awards Guide
New European Bauhaus website
Communication from the Commission on the New European Bauhaus
English (UK)