The European Commission organises the third edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival 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.
First held in 2022, the NEB Festival is a biennial event that invites people to celebrate and take stock of the progress of the New European Bauhaus, the European Commission initiative that aims to turn the European Green Deal and Clean Industrial Deal into tangible change on the ground, improving daily lives through sustainable solutions for the built environment and lifestyles. It combines sustainability with good design, inclusivity, accessibility, and affordability, respecting Europe's diverse places, cultural heritage, and cultures.
Get involved and help shape the next Festival!
Whether you're a project leader, artist, designer, event organiser, or simply someone passionate about shaping a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future - you can now apply to be part of the next edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival:
- Organise a Satellite Event anywhere in the world or fully virtual (deadline: 31 December 2025).
Events need to happen during the main Festival dates (9–13 June 2026). This also applies to events in Belgium (this corrects the information published in the October NEB newsletter). - Showcase your NEB-aligned project – this call is closed
- Share your artistic performance or cultural activity – this call is closed
- or help us spread the word about the calls using this promo kit.
Scroll down for the details about the calls.
NEB Trophy 2026 – Design Competition
In parallel to the Festival calls, students of architecture, design, and the arts are invited to take part in an EU-wide competition to design the first official trophy of the New European Bauhaus Prizes. Shortlisted teams will be invited to Brussels to present their ideas during the NEB Festival, and the winning design will be unveiled there before becoming the official trophy at the NEB Prizes Award Ceremony in September.
Deadline is the 31 January 2026. Visit the Trophy competition webpage for the details.
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. You can seize this chance to reach new horizons, connect with like-minded individuals, and leave an indelible mark on the beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive vision of the New European Bauhaus.
We offer you an online space, where your event or project can shine. This includes key information about your event, such as dates, location, names of organisers, agenda, and links to your event website and social media channels. You will also have the opportunity to be featured on our interactive map, gaining exposure and connection to a wider audience. Additionally, selected events and projects may have the chance for live streaming or recorded sessions on our central platform, allowing for even greater reach and engagement.
If you are part of the vibrant NEB Community, whether as a NEB Lighthouse, a NEB Prize nominee or winner, a NEB Partner, Friend of NEB, or have received EU funding for a project that embodies the principles of NEB, you meet the criteria. We also welcome other public organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and other non-profit organisations operating at the local, regional, national, European, or international level, and for-profit organisations embodying the spirit of the New European Bauhaus.
Your event should align with one of the Festival’s pillars (Forum, Fair, Fest), embrace and advance at least one, if not all, of the values of the New European Bauhaus, fostering the creation of aesthetically pleasing and sustainable environments that encourage harmonious and inclusive ways of living together.
Events can take place anywhere in the world or be fully virtual, as long as they happen during the main Festival dates (9–13 June 2026). This also applies to events in Belgium (this corrects the information published in the October NEB newsletter). This synchronisation allows for a cohesive and impactful experience across different locations, fostering a sense of unity and shared celebration.
Your event should 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 event should relate to at least one of the thematic axes:
- Reconnecting with nature
- Regaining a sense of belonging
- Prioritising the places and people that need it most
- Fostering long term, life cycle and integrated thinking in the industrial ecosystem
Your event 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.
Your eventmay take different formats:
- Physical;
- Hybrid (physical/virtual);
- Fully virtual.
Your event should include engagement with the participants.
Your event should have a communication plan, including:
- A dedicated website or a page on an existing website and presence on social media
Please fill in the online application form by clicking on the following link: APPLICATION FORM
Your applications must be submitted in English, no later than 31 December 2025.
Once the application is submitted, the answers cannot be changed.
The European Commission will be assessing applications on a rolling basis. You will receive a notification regarding the assessment results 45 days after you submit the application, providing you with information on whether your proposal has been accepted to be a part of the Festival. Further instructions and additional details will be communicated after the call closure.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding the call for expressions of interest, please write to EC-New-European-Bauhaus
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EC-New-European-Bauhaus[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).
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.
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:
- Reconnecting with nature
- Regaining a sense of belonging
- Prioritising the places and people that need it most
- 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.
Please fill in the online application form by clicking on the following link: APPLICATION FORM
Your applications must be submitted in English, no later than 15 October 2025.
Once the application is submitted, the answers cannot be changed.
The European Commission will be assessing applications throughout October and November. By 15 December 2025 at the latest, you will receive notification regarding the assessment results, providing you with information on whether your proposal has been accepted to be a part of the Festival. At that time, you will also receive further instructions and additional details.
Beyond eligibility aspects explained above, the proposals will be scored based on how well their declared scope meet the following criteria:
- Content-related requirements:
- Connection to the New European Bauhaus values and thematic axes;
- Innovative and participatory aspects of the proposed activity;
- Relevance and quality of the communication activities;
- Communication plan and activities before, during and after the Festival.
- Technical requirements:
- Capacity to deliver the proposed activity within the requested timeframe;
- Soundness of the budget in line of proposed activity(ies);
- Balance between different forms of artistic and cultural expression.
- Communication plan and activities before, during and after the Festival.
- New European Bauhaus Community membership
- Members of the NEB Community are NEB Partners, NEB Friends, NEB Prizes winners and finalists, beneficiaries of NEB dedicated calls for funding, NEB Policy and R&I National Contact Points.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding the call for expressions of interest, please write to EC-New-European-Bauhausec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EC-New-European-Bauhaus[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).
Have a question? watch the info session recording and check the Q&A section here below:
1. What is the New European Bauhaus Festival?
The New European Bauhaus Festival is a biannual event that celebrates and takes stock of the progress of the New European Bauhaus. The 3rd edition will take place in Brussels, featuring exhibits, projects, actions, activities from the next community and beyond, as well as discussions in various formats through the forum.
2. What are the key themes for the 3rd edition of the Festival?
The 3rd edition focuses on reimagining the built environment, placing life, spaces, and then buildings as priorities. The festival will explore three main directions: the transformative power of democratic engagement, the role of empowered citizens and local authorities, and affordable housing as a cornerstone of democratic participation.
3. What types of initiatives are eligible for the fair call?
Eligible initiatives are those that promote the values of the New European Bauhaus and the development of beautiful and sustainable spaces.
These initiatives should reflect the values of aesthetics, togetherness, and sustainability, and at least one of the principles: multi-level engagement, transdisciplinary approach, and participatory process.
4. What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is 15 October 2025.
5. How will the applications be evaluated?
Applications will be evaluated in two stages: content evaluation and technical and budget evaluation.
The content evaluation assesses how well the proposal connects to New European Bauhaus values, principles, thematic axes, and the inclusion of members from the New European Bauhaus community.
The technical and budget evaluation assesses the feasibility and budget impact of the proposal.
6. What criteria are used in the content evaluation?
The content evaluation includes several criteria:
i. Alignment with NEB values, principles, and thematic axes (30 points).
ii. Quality of the proposal and proposed engagement activities (20 points).
iii. Communication plan before, during, and after the festival (10 points).
7. What is assessed in the technical and budget evaluation?
Technical feasibility: Whether the proposed activities can be realized within the festival venue.
Budget impact: Whether the proposed activities match the available budget
8. What tips are provided for aligning with NEB values and principles?
It is recommended to use the NEB compass tool, which explains each value and principle and helps align your project with them. Not all values and principles need to be equally addressed; projects can have different ambitions based on their capabilities.
9. Should I aim for the highest ambition in all criteria?
No, it is advised not to artificially inflate your application to gain additional points. Focus on the innovative and creative aspects of your proposal while being mindful of the available space and resources
10. What are the booth sizes available for exhibitors?
The booth sizes available are 5 m² and 10 m². Exhibitors can choose their preferred size in the application.
11. Can exhibitors organize workshops or co-creative sessions?
Yes, exhibitors can organize workshops, labs, and participatory activities. There will be additional spaces available for these activities, separate from the exhibition booths.
12. Is there a budget range recommended for exhibitors?
The Festival does not provide a specific budget range for exhibitors. The Festival covers travel and accommodation costs for two people per exhibitor, but exhibitors are responsible for their own technical and operational costs.
13. Can exhibitors bring their own customized installations?
Exhibitors can propose bringing their own customized installations. These requests should be detailed in the additional information section of the application and will be discussed further if the application is selected.
14. Is there a requirement for exhibitors to be present during the Fair?
Yes, selected exhibitors are required to be present at the Fair during the opening hours throughout the entire Festival. The Fair is usually open from 10:00 to 17:00.
15. Can exhibitors invite and organize events in their booths?
Yes, exhibitors are allowed to organise events and activities in their booths. If planning a larger event, it should be described in the application under engagement activities.
16. Is the entry to the Festival free of charge?
Yes, the entry to the Festival is free of charge for all visitors throughout the Festival.
17. Can materials be delivered in advance to the event location?
Delivering materials in advance is not possible due to the tight schedule before the Festival begins. However, the event and production team will work to find solutions for such requests.
The 2026 edition of the Festival is calling for artists 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 joining us in person in Brussels, you will have the chance to be part of a citizen-focused cultural celebration, filled with art exhibitions, music, theater, dance, and more. You can propose participatory activities like workshops and competitions, or simply create convivial moments with citizens through musical performances and pop-up spaces. If you prefer a digital presence, no worries! You can submit pre-recorded material, reaching a broader audience and sharing your unique creativity.
To support the participation of artists, the European Commission will offer coverage for travel expenses. Additionally, a flat fee will be allocated to the selected activities to contribute to the fair remuneration of artists.
Join us in shaping the future of the New European Bauhaus by showcasing your talent, connecting with communities, and leaving a lasting impact. The exact amounts can only be decided once the Commission will have an overview of all applications.
Contemporary languages of artistic experimentation in fields like music, live audiovisual shows, public projections, participatory theatre and documentary theatre, dance, and performances will complement the ideas, prototypes and laboratories that sit at the center of the program.
Your proposal should promote the values of the New European Bauhaus and the development of beautiful and sustainable spaces and ways of living together. The proposal of an artistic performance, exhibition or participatory activity should be planned to take place during the festival week, 9-13 June 2026, in Brussels.
Your proposal of an artistic performance, exhibition or participatory activity should reflect the New European Bauhaus core values:
- Sustainability in environmental terms, from climate goals, to circularity, zero pollution, and protecting/improving biodiversity;
- Aesthetics, including quality of experience and style, beyond functionality;
- Inclusion, valorising diversity, equality for all, accessibility, and affordability.
Your proposal should relate to at least one of the thematic axes:
- Reconnecting with nature
- Regaining a sense of belonging
- Prioritizing the places and people that need it most
- Fostering long term, life cycle and integrated thinking in the industrial ecosystem
Your proposal could also illustrate the principles of the New European Bauhaus:
- A multilevel approach: from global to local. Climate change and the green transition bring challenges that should be addressed globally. At the same time, it is at the local level that change is happening and makes sense for people, which also includes small scale projects.
- 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 in many different competencies and knowledge from different fields.
Please fill in the online application form by clicking on the following link: APPLICATION FORM
Your applications must be submitted in English, no later than 15 October 2025.
Once the application is submitted, the answers cannot be changed.
The European Commission will be assessing applications throughout October and November. By early December 2025 at the latest, you will receive notification regarding the assessment results, providing you with information on whether your proposal has been accepted to be a part of the Festival. At that time, you will also receive further instructions and additional details.
Beyond eligibility aspects explained above, the proposals will be scored based on how well their declared scope meet the following criteria:
- Content-related requirements:
- Connection to the New European Bauhaus values and thematic axes;
- Originality of the proposed activity;
- Relevance, quality and originality of the communication activities or activation programme proposed by the applicant.
- Technical requirements:
- Capacity to deliver the proposed activity within the requested timeframe;
- Soundness of the budget in line of proposed activity(ies);
- Balance between different forms of artistic and cultural expression.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding the call for expressions of interest, please write to EC-New-European-Bauhausec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EC-New-European-Bauhaus[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).
Have a question? Watch the info session recording and check the Q&A section here below:
1. What is the focus of the NEB Festival for 2026?
The focus of the NEB Festival for 2026 is on the evolution of the New European Bauhaus (NEB), with a particular emphasis on neighbourhoods and the built environment.
It will 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.
2. What are the pillars of the NEB Festival?
The NEB Festival has four pillars: the Fest, Fair, satellite events, and the Forum (a conference discussion part). There are no calls for expression of interest for the Forum part.
3. What should proposals for the Fest reflect?
Proposals must promote the values of the New European Bauhaus and the development of beautiful, sustainable spaces that foster ways of living together. This includes reflecting the NEB values of aesthetics, sustainability, and inclusion (togetherness), as well as at least one NEB principle.
4. Are proposals limited to specific topics?
While the overall topics should be reflected, proposals are not automatically discarded if they cover other topics. The key is that all applications must promote NEB values and at least one principle to be considered.
5. What types of initiatives are eligible?
The selection is very wide and includes contemporary languages of artistic experimentation, music, live performances, audio-visual shows, public projections, participatory theatre, documentary theatre, dance, and other performances.
This list is not exhaustive and is meant to be inclusive of various artistic expressions.
6. What are the evaluation criteria for the application?
The evaluation process involves two main parts: content evaluation and technical and budget evaluation.
Content evaluation is done by external experts and includes criteria such as connection to NEB values, quality of the proposal, and engagement activities.
The technical and budget evaluation is handled by production and events professionals and includes criteria like the capacity to deliver the proposal, impact on the festival budget, and fit with the venue and programme.
7. How can applicants provide different budget options in their submissions?
Applicants can provide different budget options, such as versions with varying numbers of participants, to help with decision-making.
8. What does "participatory" mean in the context of the festival?
Participation can involve both audience engagement during performances (e.g. Q&A sessions) and the process of creating the project (e.g. involving diverse teams and community members in the development phase). Both aspects are considered participatory.
9. How many applications will be selected for the festival?
The number of selected applications depends on the quality and complexity of the proposals received. It is not a fixed number and can vary based on the budget and technical requirements of the selected projects.
Historically, around 20 to 30 performances have been selected.
10. What is the flat fee for selected applicants?
The flat fee for selected Fest applicants is €950.
11. Can applicants apply to both the Fest and the Fair?
Yes, there are no limitations on applying to both the Fest and the Fair. However, the explanation for participating in both should be strong and well-argued.
12. Can participatory processes extend beyond the festival days?
Yes, participatory processes can take place before, during, and after the festival. The main activity should occur during the festival, but related processes can extend beyond it.
13. What is the deadline for submitting applications?
The deadline for submitting applications is 15 October 2025.
The evaluation period starts immediately after the submission deadline and lasts into November. Applicants will be notified of the results by mid-December.
14. What should applicants do if they have specific requests or additional information?
Applicants can include specific requests or additional information in the "additional information" section of the application form, which is on page three of the application and has no character limit.
15. What venue is planned for the festival?
The planned venue for the festival is the Museum of Art and History in the Parc Cinquantenaire, Brussels. However, if this venue is not secured, alternative venues in Brussels will be considered.
16. Can non-EU applicants apply to the festival?
Yes, applications are welcome from EU and non-EU countries alike. There are no limitations based on nationality.
17. Will there be sample budgets or examples of previous applications provided?
No, sample budgets or examples of previous applications will not be provided. Applicants are advised to keep their budget presentations simple and clear, detailing equipment, production costs, and other expenses.
Previous edition
The Festival 2024 took place in the Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Art & History Museum in Brussels, 9-13 April, 2024.
The Festival illustrated how diverse creators, organisations and projects use the New European Bauhaus (NEB) resources to put the European Green Deal into action, with the active engagement of the NEB community.
It also served as an opportunity to take stock of the NEB's progress since its inception three years earlier. Various panel discussions explored the role of citizens participation, place-based policies and innovation in driving local transformation. They delved into the potential of nature-based solutions to enhance urban life quality and to mitigate climate change impacts on cities, or architecture's role in climate action.
For the first time, the Festival focused on how the NEB advances sustainability within the European fashion industry, aligning with the objectives of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. In particular, on 11 April, as part of the Forum, visitors were invited to a special day dedicated to sustainable fashion, featuring a catwalk.
NEB Academy was launched during the Festival and NEB Prizes were awarded on the last day of the event as an anticipated culmination.
Relive the Festival 2024 moments
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Catch all the action:
Get a glimpse of the NEB Festival 2024
Rewatch the NEB Prize Award Ceremony Live Stream
The New European Bauhaus Festival 2024 in Brussels was a beacon of success, drawing in thousands of participants – on site and virtual - over five days who connected with over 250 artists, exhibitors, speakers, and policymakers during interactive panel discussions, workshops, demonstrations, and artistic performances.
The prestigious New European Bauhaus Prizes 2024 Ceremony highlighted 20 remarkable projects and ideas that embody the movement's ethos. Discover the 2024 Winners here.
The exhibition showcasing these finalists and their innovative work continues online