Municipalities either in rural settings or with a population below 20.000 inhabitants will be the target of these awards. Check if your municipality is eligible here.
The NEB Boost for Small Municipalities seeks to honour the vital contributions of smaller players in the New European Bauhaus, recognizing that their involvement is key to making the movement more inclusive and accessible. It emphasizes the importance of focusing on actions at the street and neighbourhood level, as even the smallest efforts can create meaningful change. The initiative highlights that countless small initiatives already exist, merely waiting to be amplified and supported for greater impact.
The proposals should be aligned with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values (sustainable, inclusive, beautiful) and working principles (participatory process, multi-level engagement, transdisciplinary approach).
They must focus on the built environment - such as the construction, renovation, and adaptation of buildings and public spaces - through the lenses of circularity, carbon neutrality, cultural heritage preservation, affordable housing solutions, and regeneration of rural or urban spaces.
Eligible projects should have achieved a sufficient level of maturity and demonstrate an emerging participatory approach. Applicants should emphasize the steps already undertaken to implement the project, securing political support, actively involve citizens, end-users and key stakeholders, but the project cannot yet be finalised at the time of submission of the application. Check the eligibility criteria here.
If the project is already completed, applicants are encouraged to apply under Strand A of the New European Bauhaus Prizes 2026 competition.
A total of 20 winners will be selected by an expert jury from a list including the top-ranked 30 applications.
The 20 winners will receive a monetary prize of EUR 30,000.
In addition to a monetary amount, each winner will benefit from a communication package provided by the European Commission (e.g., promotion in the European Commission’s social media and websites, assistance to produce a short video and support in promoting the projects).
Applications for the NEB Boost to small municipalities will open on 20 February 2026, and should be submitted through this platform.
For further reference, applicants are invited to consult the NEB compass which outlines the different values and principles of the NEB and establishes different ambition levels.
You can send your questions regarding the application and selection process via the contact form.