The NEB Prizes 2026 are open to projects and concepts implemented in the EU, in the Western Balkans and Ukraine. Moldova will also join the competition this year.
In addition, an international prize of the New European Bauhaus Prizes will be open to Japan and Brazil.
The Prizes 2026 will award 13 winners in the four new categories based on the thematic axes of transformation that guide the delivery of the New European Bauhaus:
- Enhancing Circularity, Sustainability, and Innovation
- Strengthening Local Democracy and Inclusion
- Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change
- Enablers for New European Bauhaus Transformation
In each of the four categories, two parallel competition strands are established:
- Strand A: “New European Bauhaus Champions” will be devoted to existing and completed projects with clear and positive results.
- Strand B: “New European Bauhaus Rising Stars” will be dedicated to concepts submitted by young talents aged 30 years old or less. The concepts can be at different stages of development, from ideas with a clear plan to the prototype level.
The sixth edition of the NEB Prizes will award one ‘NEB Water Resilience’ special prize to projects providing sustainable, inclusive, beautiful solutions in line with NEB values and principles.
The sixth edition will also launch an international strand of the New European Bauhaus Prizes to showcase and reward international projects that reflect the NEB values by awarding 2 ‘NEB International prize’. This prize is only open to applicants and projects based in Japan and Brazil.
Applicants must indicate their will to participate in the above mentioned prizes when filling the application form.
A total of 13 winners and 14 runners up will be selected by an expert jury and will receive a monetary prize of:
- EUR 20,000 for winners of the New European Bauhaus Champions (Strand A)
- EUR 15,000 for winners of the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars (Strand B)
- EUR 20,000 for winners of the ‘NEB Water Resilience’
- EUR 20,000 for winners of the ‘NEB International Prize’
- EUR 5,000 for runner up
In addition to a monetary amount, each winner and runner up 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) and, as a novelty for this edition, they will take part in a special programme that will provide them targeted coach support and mentoring.
Applications for the NEB Prizes 2026 will open on 20 February 2026 and should be submitted through this platform before the 22 March 2026 at 19:00 CET. Special Extension for International Applicants International applicants to the NEB Prizes 2026 now have until 29 March 2026 19:00 CET to submit their applications.
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.