Short Description

The European Commission organises the third edition of The Festival of the New European Bauhaus in Brussels (Belgium) on 9-13 June 2026, and you can be part of it! 

The NEB Festival 2026 will, among other topics, address the transformative power of democratic engagement in shaping more inclusive and sustainable communities. It will highlight how empowered citizens and local authorities can play an active role in creating their environments, with a particular emphasis on affordable housing as a cornerstone of democratic participation. In line with the NEB’s core vision, the Festival will be a space to reimagine our built environment, placing first life, then spaces, and then buildings.

The Festival encompasses four key pillars:  

  • Forum – a platform for engaging discussions and the exchange of ideas surrounding the New European Bauhaus.
  • Fair – a laboratory and exhibition, highlighting projects and prototypes that align with and support the core values of the New European Bauhaus.
  • Fest – a celebration that unites culture, art, and conviviality, serving as a moment of collective rejoicing, honouring freedom of expression and embracing radical, innovative, and disruptive ideas and visions.
  • Satellite events – initiatives and events organised independently in Brussels and beyond, aligned with the New European Bauhaus values. 

Eligibility

You meet the criteria to be a part of this transformative movement if your project promotes the values of the New European Bauhaus and the development of beautiful and sustainable spaces and ways of living together. The proposed project can be based either in Brussels, across the EU or beyond. 

Priority in the selection process will be given to projects by entities involved in the NEB Community, such as, for example, being a NEB Lighthouse demonstrator, a NEB Prize finalist or winner, projects implemented by NEB Partners or Friends, or if your project has received EU funding from a NEB dedicated call for funding. 

Regardless of its geographical origin, your project needs to hold the power to captivate and connect with people and reflect the New European Bauhaus core values: 

  • Sustainability in environmental terms, from climate goals to circularity, zero pollution, and protecting nature/improving biodiversity;
  • Aesthetics, including quality of experience and style, beyond functionality;
  • Inclusion, from valuing diversity to securing accessibility and affordability. 

Your project should relate to at least one of the thematic axes: 

  1. Reconnecting with nature
  2. Regaining a sense of belonging
  3. Prioritising the places and people that need it most
  4. Fostering long-term, life cycle, and integrated thinking in the industrial ecosystem 

Your projects could also illustrate the principles of the New European Bauhaus: 

  • A multilevel approach: from global to local. A multi-level engagement across scales, fields, and time is necessary to anticipate the effects that global issues can have on the local dimension, and vice versa (e.g. the effects of national air quality regulations on local environments, the impact of an activity launched at neighbourhood level for cleaning the oceans…). A multi-level NEB project should implement an effective exchange both horizontally (with peers) and vertically (with others operating on a different scale), and then advance to a well-defined collaborative framework integrating the two.
  • A participatory approach: involves civil society and people of all ages and in all their diversity, including women, youth and disadvantaged groups (disabled people) and minorities.
  • A transdisciplinary approach requires bringing together knowledge from different fields and practitioners from various fields. They work on solutions that affect different aspects of a project – social, economic, cultural, artistic, architectural, ecological, etc. Transdisciplinary ways of working also encourage solutions that can be applied in a variety of disciplines and fields and are not limited to one area only.

How to Apply

Online Application

Program Benefits & Awards

The 2026 edition of the Festival is calling for innovators like you to participate in this extraordinary hybrid event. With its core activities taking place in vibrant Brussels and captivating satellite events spanning across the European Union and beyond, this is an unparalleled opportunity to gain international exposure.

By stepping into the Fair, your work will take the spotlight, illuminating the profound impacts of climate change in our urban and rural landscapes. Through your creations, you will raise awareness, fostering empathy and highlighting the transformative actions you have taken. Nevertheless, that is just the beginning. At the Fair, you will also unleash your boundless creativity and join forces with fellow visionaries to pioneer the next groundbreaking solutions for these urgent challenges.

Immerse yourself in this electrifying atmosphere where experimentation reigns, empowering you and your peers to defy limitations and transform the path to a New European Bauhaus future. Apply now and make your project an integral part of this groundbreaking festival.

Entry Fee

None

Location

Belgium

Timeline

  • Application Deadline: 30 September 2025

Website Link: https://new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/events/festival_en

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