The Commission has awarded the new 2026 European Bauhaus Prizes to sustainable, inclusive and beautiful projects

The European Commission has awarded the 2026 New European Bauhaus (NEB) Awards to 13 winners from various EU countries, Ukraine and North Macedonia, as well as Japan and Brazil, who emerged victorious in the international competition. Now in their sixth year, the NEB Awards recognise exceptional projects, concepts and ideas that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, demonstrating how the integration of culture and technology, innovation and design can enrich the lives of people and communities.

The awards were divided into two categories: one for established projects (the ‘New European Bauhaus Champions’) and another for promising initiatives by young aspiring designers (the ‘New Emerging Bauhaus Stars’). The 2026 edition also includes a special award for water resilience and international awards for projects from Brazil and Japan.

Alongside the 2026 NEB Awards, 20 small municipalities received the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities award. This highlights the vital role these communities play in building a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future. This new initiative is supported by a pilot project from the European Parliament.

All winners received a cash prize of up to 20,000 euros and a personalised communication package, as well as tailored support and mentoring to boost their visibility.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stated:

“Over the past six years, this competition has showcased the best of European creativity in building a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future. This year’s special prize highlights the importance of water resilience and improving our management of water, one of our most valuable resources. Furthermore, the international awards demonstrate how the values of the New European Bauhaus resonate beyond Europe, from Brazil to Japan.”

New winners of the 2026 European Bauhaus Awards

Among the winners in the ‘New European Bauhaus Champions’ category is Circular by Nature from France, an urban oasis where nothing is wasted and everyone contributes. In Germany, the Big People project brought together children from local families and refugee children to create a circus carnival. The Ukrainian Therapeutic Garden at the VDNG is a public space for activists, veterans and anyone seeking to recover. And in Cyprus, the Social Impact Generator Hub transformed a shipping container in Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital, into a living laboratory for inclusive innovation. In this category, the La Marjal Floodable Urban Park in Alicante, which absorbs rainwater through natural wetland systems and transforms the risk of flooding into a vibrant public landscape, won the public vote.

In the ‘New Rising Stars of the European Bauhaus’ section , the winning projects include ‘Coots as Partners in Circular Care’ from Belgium, which developed bespoke floating platforms to encourage all waterbirds to breed safely in urban canals, whilst “Traviata in Three Acts” from North Macedonia transformed a neighbourhood in Skopje. “Casa da Azenha” from Portugal is transforming a traditional family-run oil mill into a vibrant living laboratory in Santa Cruz do Douro. “PROXIMITY COMMUNITY” from Spain is turning the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque in Barcelona into a fully equipped park, redefining this environment by introducing urban allotments and building 147 social housing units. Also in this section, “Formform” from Romania, which supports architects through an adaptive, research-informed digital process, translating ideas into design inputs they can use directly, won the public vote.

New European Bauhaus Special Prize for Water Resilience.

The special prize for water resilience has been awarded to ECO H2O from Romania. This project has created the first nature-based wastewater treatment system in rural Romania, in the village of Viscri, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

New European Bauhaus International Awards

For the first time, the Awards have extended beyond Europe, with an international prize open to Brazil and Japan. The international prize for Japan is awarded to the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Centre “WHY”, a public environmental complex dedicated to building a circular society.

The international prize for Brazil is awarded to Urban Community Mini-Forests São Paulo, which is transforming underused spaces in state schools, as well as other public facilities, into climate sanctuaries rich in biodiversity, created in collaboration with pupils, educators and local communities.

Background

The awards were presented during a ceremony held in Brussels on 15 October, attended by the Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto; the Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen; Marcos Ros Sempere, Member of the European Parliament; and Heike Raab, Member of the Committee of the Regions; amongst other European and national officials. 

Launched in 2021 following President von der Leyen’s 2020 State of the Union address , the NEB has grown into a dynamic community of over 2,000 members across Europe and other continents, and has supported more than 700 projects to date. With the NEB Council’s Recommendation and the Commission’s Communication, the initiative is moving from vision to implementation, driving tangible change on the ground and helping to improve people’s living environments across Europe. 

Through the annual NEB Awards, the initiative highlights concrete solutions that demonstrate how communities can live more sustainably and harmoniously, whilst ensuring affordability and social equity. Over the course of its five editions, the NEB Awards have raised the profile of projects, concepts and ideas from across the EU, the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Since 2021, more than 6,400 applicationshave been received and 107 winners have shared over €2.2 million in EU funding.

 

More information: European Commission