The European Commission has opened applications for the sixth edition of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes and the second edition of the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities. These awards aim to recognize projects that focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and improving quality of life across Europe and beyond.
President Ursula von der Leyen stated: “The New European Bauhaus has grown from an idea to a vibrant movement. Projects across Europe show the possibilities for our future: sustainable, inclusive and beautiful. This is the moment to scale up; placing the NEB firmly in our competitiveness agenda to drive innovation and creative thinking. And in this, the NEB Prizes are a crucial element.”
This year’s NEB Prizes will see 13 winners, including two chosen by public vote, a special award for water resilience, and international prizes. Each winner can receive up to €20,000, while 14 runners-up will be awarded €5,000 each.
Several changes have been introduced for 2026. Moldova is now eligible alongside EU Member States, Western Balkans countries, and Ukraine. A new ‘Water Resilience’ prize has been added with a €20,000 award for addressing water-related challenges. The competition now includes an international track welcoming entries from Brazil and Japan with dedicated prizes.
Finalists will participate in an accelerator program offering coaching and communication support. The four revised categories are: Enhancing Circularity, Sustainability, and Innovation; Strengthening Local Democracy and Inclusion; Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change; Enablers for New European Bauhaus Transformation.
The NEB Boost for Small Municipalities returns to support 20 projects in rural areas or communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. Eligible projects must focus on construction or renovation that prioritizes circularity, carbon neutrality, heritage preservation, affordable housing solutions or area regeneration. Winners receive €30,000 each plus communication support from the Commission.
Applications are open until March 17th at 19:00 CET via the official New European Bauhaus Prizes platform. Finalists will be announced during the third New European Bauhaus Festival in June 2026; winners will be revealed at a ceremony in autumn.
The New European Bauhaus initiative was launched in 2021 following President von der Leyen’s State of the Union address in 2020. It aims to make clean transitions attractive through design and social inclusion by funding projects underpinned by cohesion policy funds and Horizon Europe resources within the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework.
Over five editions of these prizes since 2021 more than 5,700 applications have been received with over €2 million distributed among 94 winners so far.