The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes recognise inspiring projects and ideas that improve people’s quality of life by combining sustainability, inclusion and beauty.

The NEB Prizes are structured around two main strands:

• Strand A rewards Champions: mature, implemented projects that are already delivering concrete results on the ground.
• Strand B supports Rising Stars: promising ideas or early-stage initiatives, often led by young talents, with strong potential for impact. 

In both strands, applicants can apply under one of the four thematic categories, revised to align with the European Commission’s plans for the future of the initiative (on 16 December 2025, the European Commission presented its plans for the future of the New European Bauhaus)

In 2026, the Prizes will feature two main novelties. Firstly, one special thematic prize on Water Resilience will be awarded to a project or concept across both strands and categories.

Since 2024 the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes have developed an international dimension, extending beyond EU Member States to include neighbouring countries such as Western Balkans and Ukraine and looking now even beyond Europe. 

In 2026, the Prizes will welcome applications from Moldova. Additionally, for the first time, the Prizes will extend beyond Europe by accepting applications from Brazil and Japan. One winner from each of these countries will be awarded an international prize, and two runners-up from each country will receive monetary tokens. For more information, please read the dedicated Guide to Applicants for the International Prizes.

The NEB Prizes 2026 will award 13 prizes of up to €20,000 to winners, along with support for communication and visibility. In addition, 14 runners-up will each receive a €5,000 monetary token. All the winners will be announced at an official award ceremony held by the European Commission.

In parallel, the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities will provide support to 20 small players that want to develop projects in the EU that embody the values and principles of the initiative.

What Strand B (Rising Stars) is for                                 

Strand B (Rising Stars) rewards promising concepts and early-stage initiatives developed by young and promising talents (from ideas to prototypes) that are not necessarily completed yet but show strong potential and a clear plan to be brought to life.

Who can apply

Applications are open to individuals and organisations (public, private, or non-profit), provided the concept is implemented in the EU, the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.), Moldova, or Ukraine. All applicants in Strand B must be 30 years old or younger on the final day of the call for applications, including all representatives of the organisation involved in the creation of the given concept.

Applicants from Brazil and Japan applying for the international prizes are invited to read the dedicated Guide to Applicants for the International Prizes for more information.

What the prizes aim to recognise

Visibility to new and emerging conceptsintegrating the three NEB core values and working principles (participatory process, multi-level engagement, transdisciplinary approach), with clear potential to improve quality of life for people and communities in the long term.

Basic submission requirements

The application must be submitted by the author of the concept (individual or organisation). If the concept has multiple co-authors involved in its design or development, all must be listed in the application form. Please note that all the listed author(s) must be 30 years old or younger on the final day of the call for applications. Please read the eligibility criteria for more information.

Applications must be submitted in English via the online platform by the closing date, 17 March 2026, 19:00 CET.

Tools to assist the applicants

• NEB compass
• List of previous finalists and winners of the prizes, and their applications

Prize amounts and number of awards (Strand B – Rising stars)

Five winners in Strand B will each receive €15,000 (1 winner per category,1 public vote winner). Runners-up will receive monetary tokens of €5,000 each.

Special prize on Water Resilience

Five top-ranking applications across all strands and categories competing for the water resilience prize will be selected as finalists. €20,000 will be awarded to one winner. 

Your neighbourhood, your building, your street, your daily life: that’s where the change starts. The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an EU initiative that celebrates the diversity of places, traditions, and cultures in Europe and beyond. More specifically, it promotes solutions that improve people’s quality of life, by responding to specific community and territorial needs through place-based concepts and initiatives — including, but not limited to, the sustainable (re)design of places and spaces.

The NEB recognises that innovation is not only about breakthroughs: it is also about incremental, practical improvements that can be tested, adapted, and replicated. By putting sustainability, inclusion, and beauty at the heart of how we shape our living environment, the NEB helps make these values a concrete driver of Europe’s competitiveness agenda — grounded in everyday life, real places, and lived experience.

If you are 30 years old or younger and you have developed a new concept (from an early-stage idea to a prototype) that is intended to be implemented in the EU, the Western Balkans, Moldova, or Ukraine, then Strand B (Rising stars) is for you (see Section 5 on Eligibility criteria). Applications can be submitted by individuals or organisations, as long as all authors and representatives involved in creating the concept meet the age requirement. Applicants with concepts to be implemented in Brazil or Japan, and who are nationals of either country, please refer to the Guide to Applicants for the International Prizes for more details.

Strand B (Rising stars) rewards and showcases emerging concepts that embody the New European Bauhaus values (sustainable, inclusive, beautiful) and its working principles: a participatory process, multi-level engagement, and a transdisciplinary approach. It is designed to help surface the next generation of solutions that can improve quality of life for people and communities, and that have the potential to be replicated in other places. For further details, see Section 3 on Categories and Section 6 on award criteria. 

You may also consult the NEB compass, which outlines the values and working principles of the initiative and illustrates different levels of ambition. Examples of winning applications are available on the NEB prizes website.

Winners of Strand B Rising stars will receive a monetary prize of €15,000 each, while runners-up will receive monetary tokens of €5,000 each. Beyond monetary awards, the Prizes offers recognition and visibility: each finalist will benefit from participation in the NEB Accelerator Programme (see Section 2). For more information regarding the selection process please see Section 7.

In addition to the four prizes categories (see Section 3), and public vote prizes in each strand, the NEB Prizes 2026 will also award one special thematic prize, focusing on water resilience. Please see Section 5, table 4 for more information.

A total of 5 winners from Strand B will receive a monetary prize of:

• € 15,000 for 4 winners of each category in Strand B       
• € 15,000 for one public vote winner in Strand B 

In addition, one winner of the annual thematic prize on Water Resilience across strands and category will be awarded € 20,000.

The NEB Prizes 2026 will also award monetary tokens of €5,000 to the runners-up.

Beyond the monetary prize and tokens, each winner and each finalist in Strand B will benefit from an Accelerator programme provided by the European Commission. This will include a communication package, as well as tailored coaching and guidance to strengthen their visibility, storytelling, strategic clarity, and ecosystem engagement. Each finalist will be assigned an official Coach, who will lead the individual coaching sessions tailored to the finalist's context. This will include collective and individual sessions to support preparation, integration, and visibility. In doing so, each Coach will leverage the communication package, ensuring that finalists benefit from high-quality, ready-to-use materials and methods to present their projects with clarity and impact. Coaches act not only as technical guides but as strategic allies, helping each finalist make the most of the visibility, learning, and networking opportunities offered by the NEB Prizes.

1 - Enhancing Circularity, Sustainability, and Innovation

This category rewards inspiring projects that combine beauty, sustainability, and social inclusion through circular and resource-efficient approaches. It rewards solutions that reduce environmental impact while improving quality of life, affordability, and resilience across sectors such as construction, textiles, furniture, and design.

Eligible projects shall apply circular principles such as reuse, repair, modularity, design for disassembly, sharing models, and the use of bio-based or recycled materials. They shall also strengthen local or regional circular value chains.

For example, in the built environment, projects can demonstrate the smarter use of space and infrastructure through renovation, repurposing, or temporary uses, helping to respond to housing and space constraints and support more inclusive living solutions.

They may further integrate energy-, water-, and material-efficient strategies, nature-based solutions, or digital and AI tools that contribute to climate action, biodiversity protection, and the sustainable management of natural resources.

More in general, the category rewards technological, social, and community-led innovations that can be replicated or scaled up, including new spatial, organisational, and business models that support SMEs, skills development, and the scaling-up of innovative solutions, and that contribute to a climate-neutral and nature-positive future.

Affordability and social inclusion should be embedded throughout. Projects may also promote innovative economic models and contribute to the long-term socio-economic development of their territory.

2 - Strengthening Local Democracy and Inclusion

This category rewards projects that combine beauty, sustainability, and social inclusion to strengthen local democracy, social cohesion, and community trust by placing citizens at the centre of decision-making and implementation processes.

Projects shall demonstrate genuine participatory and co-design approaches, bringing together citizens, professionals, and public authorities in transdisciplinary ways. Projects may promote the use of innovative tools, including digital platforms and immersive environments, to support participation, experimentation, and collective decision-making. Co-ownership, cooperative, and community-led models that promote affordability and inclusion are particularly welcome.

This category rewards initiatives that create inclusive, accessible, and high-quality public spaces and neighbourhoods, fostering a sense of belonging and social and intergenerational fairness. Projects may address the needs of vulnerable groups, including people at risk of exclusion, poverty, homelessness, or displacement.

Examples may also illustrate the application of “design for all” principles to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and respond to ageing-related challenges. Innovative ownership, governance, and business models — such as cooperative schemes, anti-speculation mechanisms, or impact investment — are also eligible.

By empowering communities to shape their living environments, these projects shall contribute to resilient social structures, local agency, and stronger democratic practices rooted in everyday life.

3 - Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change

This category rewards projects that combine beauty, sustainability, and social inclusion by using arts, culture, and cultural heritage as drivers of creativity, innovation, and social transformation within the New European Bauhaus framework. It recognises the role of cultural practices, heritage, and quality design in strengthening social cohesion, fostering new approaches, and creating a shared sense of place.

The category welcomes transdisciplinary initiatives that connect art, science, and industry by embedding artists and cultural professionals in technological and scientific environments, and by fostering collaboration with academic, construction, and manufacturing sectors. These projects generate new perspectives, imagine alternative futures, and co-create forward-looking solutions for societal regeneration.

Projects may also combine cultural and vernacular knowledge with digital and emerging technologies to enhance impact and support learning and participation in NEB values. 

Projects may involve the physical transformation of places, showing how new, renovated, or repurposed spaces connect with local heritage, contemporary lifestyles, and demographic realities. They may bring together artists, designers, architects, educators, researchers, and local communities to reimagine neighbourhoods and public spaces. The adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, based on repair and informed renovation, is particularly encouraged as a way to support decarbonisation while preserving cultural value.

Examples can include the development of products, services, or business models rooted in local culture, craftsmanship, and creative diversity, in fields such as fashion, furniture, interior design, food, and everyday living.

The category recognises culture-led initiatives that go beyond functionality and aesthetics to create meaningful, inclusive, and enriching experiences that inspire lasting change.

4 - Enablers for New European Bauhaus Transformation

This category recognises projects that create the conditions needed to develop, scale up, and mainstream New European Bauhaus solutions. It rewards initiatives that support new ways of working, learning, governing, and financing to enable sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality transformation.

The category welcomes initiatives that develop innovative governance and participation models, funding schemes, education and skills programmes, and experimental environments where NEB approaches can be tested, refined, and scaled up.

Eligible projects may promote good practices to attract private investment and develop innovative business and financing models, including blended finance, local funding mechanisms, public–private partnerships, and community-based cooperative schemes that support affordable and high-quality solutions.

Projects may also support the development and dissemination of NEB-aligned standards, peer-learning platforms, professional training and technical assistance programmes, and specialised academic courses, including master’s and doctoral programmes. They shall help practitioners, businesses, and public authorities integrate NEB values and principles into their daily work.

Particular attention is given to initiatives that empower local actors, foster cross-sector collaboration, and support citizens and communities in co-creating their neighbourhoods and living environments, including through inclusive and accessible design approaches.

By strengthening capacities, skills, demand, and investment for integrated NEB projects, this category highlights solutions that enable systemic change and ensure the long-term viability and impact of the New European Bauhaus.

Applications for the New European Bauhaus Prizes should be submitted through the dedicated NEB Prizes platform and should be described in detail in the relevant application form.

The application period will start on 20 February 2026 and end on 17 March 2026 at 19:00 CET). Any possible decision to extend this deadline will be communicated on the New European Bauhaus Prizes platform.

The application should detail how the project or concept reflects and translates the New European Bauhaus values and working principles. It should also include elements reflecting the eligibility and award criteria which differ slightly for each strand (see further detail in the sections below).

To help you complete the application form, please refer to Annex 1 that includes guidance for the description of your project.

Please note:

• Each application can be submitted under one category and in one strand only. Each applicant can submit multiple applications if they are related to different projects or concepts. The same project cannot be submitted for the NEB Boost for Small Municipalities
• Each application can be submitted only once but can be modified and updated while they are in draft state.
• Applicants interested in applying for the ‘Water Resilience’ special prize must indicate in the application form their interest in applying for this prize.
• You are invited to follow the New European Bauhaus Prizes platform for more information and further updates, and you can send your questions using the Contact form.
• Only applications that are submitted by the official deadline will be considered by the Evaluation Committee. Please do not wait until the final deadline to submit your application to avoid last-minute problems, such as page loading delays that may occur around the closing date of submissions.
• The application is designed to be as easy as possible to complete and is supported by this guide. National NEB contact points can also help answer further questions.

All applicants for the New European Bauhaus Prizes Strand B (Rising Stars) must meet the criteria outlined in the Tables 1 to 3. 

Clarifications on the concepts eligible for the annual thematic special prize on ‘Water Resilience’ can be found on Table 4.

Table 1: Eligibility of the applicant (Who you are)

1. Applicants can be an individual, a non-profit organisation, or a private entity representing a specific concept. All applicants in this strand, including any co-authors involved in the creation of the given concept, must be 30 years old or younger on the final day of call for applications. If applying as a non-profit organisation or as a private entity, all representatives   must also meet the age requirement by the final day for submissions.
2. Applicants can be EU or non-EU residents, as long as their projects and concepts are implemented in the EU, in the Western Balkans  (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.), Moldova, or in Ukraine.
3. Special rules apply for certain entities (e.g. entities subject to EU restricted measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) (please note that the EU Official Journal contains the official list and, in case of conflict, its content prevails over that of the EU Sanctions Map) and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 - Commission guidelines No 2013/C 205/05 on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments funded by the EU from 2014 onwards (OJEU C 205 of 19.07.2013, pp. 9-11). Such entities are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
4. The application must be submitted by the individual(s) or the organisation(s) who are the author(s) of the concept. If the concept has multiple co-authors involved in its design or development, all must be listed, along with an indication of their age and proof of age.
5. The applicant should not be in one or more of the exclusion situations foreseen under Article 136 of the Financial Regulation (Article 136).
6. The applicant will assume sole liability in the eventof a claim relating to the activities carried out in the framework of the contest.

Table 2: Eligibility of the entry (the nature of your project)

7. Projects submitted under Strand B must be implemented in the EU, the Western Balkans, Moldova, or Ukraine.
8. Cooperation with one or more countries is encouraged, though the project or concept should primarily be implemented in the EU, the Western Balkans, Moldova, or Ukraine. If there is a partnership, the lead partner must be identified in the application.
9. Double funding is strictly prohibited. Projects or concepts that have received a monetary EU prize are ineligible for this contest. However, projects or concepts that have previously received public funding, including from the EU, (e.g. a grant) are eligible, as long as they have not won a monetary EU prize.
10. Eligible applications that have not received a New European Bauhaus prize in previous editions may be resubmitted, provided they take into account the applicable criteria as described in this Guide to Applicants.
11. Applications must explain how the project or concept integrates and promotes the New European Bauhaus values and working principles, and howit will improvethe quality of life for people and communities in the long term.
12. Each application mustbe related to a specific location or region, witha clear target group and defined objectives. It should explain how the project or concept addresses the specific challenges faced by the location or region.
13. Projects or concepts that cannot be replicated in other contexts are not eligible. Replicability means that the project or concept can be implemented or adapted in a different location from where it originated.

Table 3: Eligibility of the submission (how you apply)

15. The nameof the legalrepresentative must be indicated.
16. Applicants must clearly indicate the prize category and strand (A or B) for which they are applying in the application form.
17. The application must be submitted via the online platform no later than (17 March 2026, 19:00.00 CET). During the applications period, the European Commission may issue a decision to extend the deadline for applications. A decision on extension is communicated on the New European Bauhaus Prizes platform.
18. Applications mustbe submitted in English.
19. The same project and concept cannot be submitted to multiple categories or strands.
20. Applicants may submit more than one application, but each must represent a different project or concept in a different category or strand. Submitting the same application twice is not permitted. Multiple submissions of the same project or concept under different categories or strands will be considered ineligible.
21. The application must consist of a fully completed form found in the NEB prizes platform, with all mandatory fields filled in. Each applicant is also required to sign the accompanying Privacy Statement.
22. The application shall include basic information and credits for the concept, as well as at least one photograph or visual representation of the concept, with copyright information and authorisation to use them by the European Commission.
23. Applications must include documentation that reflects the level of maturity and progress. Concepts in strand B can be at different stages of development, ranging from early-stage ideas to prototypes. Applicants must include a development plan, detailing the next steps to further develop, promote, and/or implement the concept, with particular focus on the year following the application. The application should demonstrate a commitment to bringing the concept to life.

Table 4: Clarifications on the annual thematic special prize on ‘Water Resilience’

Water resilience refers to the design and transformation of the built environment to protect and restore the water cycle, use water efficiently and circularly, and ensure inclusive access to clean and affordable water, while creating beautiful, liveable, and socially inclusive places.

The special prize on Water Resilience, is open to projects and concepts located in the EU, Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence), Moldova or in Ukraine, focused on integrating water management into everyday spaces, buildings, and products in ways that are sustainable, inclusive, and enhance quality of life. 

These projects and concepts should support the three core objectives of the European Water Resilience Strategy:

• Restoring and protecting the water cycle: These would include projects and concepts that work with nature to store, purify, release, and restore water. For example, buildings with green roofs or public spaces that make use of green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to improve water infiltration and storage. These infrastructure projects can contribute to resilience against floods/stormwater, droughts, reduces water pollution and increases biodiversity conservation.   
• Building a water-smart economy: These would include projects and concepts that reduce water consumption by designing buildings that reduce, reuse and recycle water. For example, buildings that capture and store rainwater, reuse it for their household appliances, and recycle/clean it for their garden.  In addition, industrial (modular/prefabricated) construction can have water-saving potentials compared with on-site construction.
• Ensuring access to clean and affordable water for all: These include projects and concepts that promote access to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation, in particular that address the needs of vulnerable groups in public spaces. In addition, it would include projects that raise public awareness by promoting education and the exchange of best practices in saving water, and that actively engage citizens in water resilient urban design and planning

For more information and examples of projects and concepts please see Annex 2 – Note about Water Resilience Prize.

How to apply:

Applicants must indicate their interest in that prize when filling the application form.

The application will also be eligible to compete in Strand B of the mainstream NEB Prizes 2026 competition, under the category to which the applicant submitted the application. However, each application can only win one prize, —as a winner in one of the categories, the public vote, or as a winner of the Water resilience special prize. A project cannot receive more than one prize.

The quality assessment of applications will be conducted by external, independent experts based on the award criteria outlined below (the final ranking and selection of the winners shall be confirmed by the Evaluation Committee, consisting of Members from the European Commission. This committee holds full responsibility for ensuring the proper conduct of the competition and its final outcomes). A maximum of 100 points will be awarded for the quality of the application. To be considered eligible for selection, an application must obtain a minimum of 50% of the maximum aggregate score obtainable across all award criteria. 

a) Showing results, outputs, or impact of the concept in relation to its objectives, and to what is expected in the context of the respective category. This includes benefits from the project for direct and indirect beneficiaries. The concept should also demonstrate their transformative potential from a global perspective (10 / 100 points)

b) Exemplary character in terms of the three core values of the New European Bauhaus (40 / 100 points):

1. Sustainability: in the environmental sense, for example, reducing the environmental impact of human activities, advancing circularity and eco-design, implementation of nature-based solutions, preventing biodiversity loss, and promoting economic activities that encourage preservation, regeneration, and lifecycle thinking. Social sustainability and financial sustainability (such as project maintenance or funding) are not part of this criterion.
2. Inclusion: in its various senses, ranging from accessibility and affordability for all, inclusive management, and design for all. It includes celebrating diversity, promoting interaction across generations, addressing spatial segregation and isolation, supporting vulnerable members of the community, and increasing opportunities for social interaction among everyone.
3. Aesthetics and quality of experience for people: through design and emotional/cultural benefits, for example by connecting to the unique qualities of the place where the project is situated, fostering a sense of belonging through meaningful experiences or integrating new enduring cultural and social values.

c) Exemplary character in terms of the three main working principles of the New European Bauhaus (35 / 100 points):

1. Participatory process: involvement of communities potentially affected by the project in the co-design, decision-making and implementation phases. Empowerment of local communities.
2. Multi-level engagement: effective exchange both horizontally (e.g. links between different citizens, stakeholders, or municipalities) and vertically (e.g. links with regional and/or national stakeholders); to connect stakeholders from diverse levels who share similar purposes.
3. Transdisciplinary approach: engagement of professionals and knowledge from different fields (e.g. architecture, drama, natural sciences) as well as drawing on the knowledge of non-academics and the public.

d) Innovative dimension (cross cutting criteria): novel approaches, as compared to mainstream, business-as-usual practices. (5 / 100 points)

e) EU Competitiveness: soundness of the financial approach to the project. (5 / 100 points)

f) High potential for transferring and replicating parts of the project (e.g. of the methodology, solutions, and experiences) to various places and contexts. (5 / 100 points).

Considering the ranking of applications based on the award criteria listed above, the final proposal by the jury (recommendation for the winners among the finalists) will also consider the following additional criteria:

i) geographical diversity

ii) balance between applications referring to physical transformation of the built environment (‘hard investments’) and other types of transformations (‘soft investments’)

iii) diversity of contexts (urban, rural, urban-rural linkages.)

The process of selecting the winners is organised and scrutinised by an Evaluation Committee composed of representatives of the European Commission. The Committee will ensure the respect of applicable rules, including in terms of conflict of interest. The Committee does not evaluate the applications themselves.

The selection process will take place in the following steps:

7.1. Eligibility check (planned for March 2026)

The Evaluation Committee will review all the applications to assess their eligibility following the eligibility criteria enlisted in section 5.

7.2. Quality assessment (planned for April 2026)

External experts selected by the European Commission services will conduct the assessment of the applications. To select these experts, the European Commission published a ‘Call for Expression of Interest’seeking experts that demonstrate relevant expertise in relation to the New European Bauhaus (balanced diversity of expertise around sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics). The experts must not have any part in or conflict of interest with applications submitted for the New European Bauhaus Prizes competition.

The selected experts will evaluate the applications and attribute points based on the award criteria mentioned in Section 6. Each eligible application will be evaluated by two different experts.

Establishment of the list of finalists 

The list of 27 finalists for the NEB Prizes 2026 will be established by selecting:

• the 8 top-ranking applications in Strand A, ensuring there are at least 2 applications in each of the four categories;
• the 8 top-ranking applications in Strand B, ensuring there are at least 2 applications in each of the four categories;
• the 5 top-ranking applications across all categories and strands competing for the water resilience special prize;
• the 6 top-ranking applications across all categories and strands competing for the international prizes, ensuring that ensuring there are at least 3 applications from each of the eligible countries.

This rule applies provided that the top-rated application(s) passed all eligibility criteria, and gathered minimum quality, defined as at least 50% of the maximum aggregate score obtainable across all award criteria.

7.3. Online Public voting (planned for June 2026)

A list of 21 finalist applications in Strand A and B of the NEB prizes 2026 will be published on the NEB Prizes website for the online public voting to establish the public vote winner in each strand. Please note that the public vote will not include the finalists competing for international prizes. The voting will be open to all individuals and entities with a valid email address and will take place through a secure online system.

7.4. Jury assessment (planned for June 2026)

The finalists’ applications will be assessed by a final jury of experts selected through the same ‘Call for Expression of Interest’ described in point 7.2. Balanced diversity of expertise around sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics, as well as gender and geographical balance will be considered when selecting the jury members. Members will also certify the absence of any conflict of interest with respect to any of the finalist applications.

The final jury will propose 11 winning projects and concepts in each category and strand, including one winner for the annual thematic special prize on Water Resilience and two winners of the international prizes. These decisions will be based on the quality of the applications, alongside all relevant complementary criteria specified under the award criteria outlined in Section 6.

The final jury will operate on a consensus basis. In case of persistent divergence of views, decisions can be taken by a simple majority voting rule.

7.5 Winners selected and notified (planned for July-September 2026)

The Evaluation Committee will first check the regularity of the entire process, will review the results of the public voting and the proposal of the jury, and will establish the list of the selected 13 winners of the NEB Prizes 2026.

Each winner can receive an award only once, i.e., either through the public vote or the jury recommendation. In case any of the public vote winner make part of the final list of best-rated applications proposed by the final jury, they will be replaced by the second-best rated application in the same category. 

The European Commission will award the prizes to the winners, and monetary tokens to runners-up based on the recommendations of the Evaluation Committee.

The Commission may cancel the contest or decide not to award the prize in any or all the categories, without any obligation to compensate participants, if: (a) no applications are received; (b) the evaluation committee cannot find a winner in each category and strand; c) the winners are not eligible or must be excluded.

The Commission may withdraw the prize after its award and recover all payments made, if it finds out that: (a) false information, fraud or corruption was used to obtain it; (b) a winner was not eligible or should have been excluded; (c) a winner is in serious breach of its obligations under the above rules of this contest.

Annex 1 - guiding questions for strand B applications

Annex 2 - Note about Water resilience prize