Festival puts sustainability centre stage

As well as learning about the transition by seeing products and prototypes for new buildings and materials and by listening to high level speakers, the event itself has been organised around sustainable principles. This means, for example, prioritising local partners, suppliers, and resources to support the local economy and reduce the impact of transportation.

In addition, about 80% of the Festival space will use rented modular structures: temporary constructions that can be removed, dismantled and rebuilt for other events. Most large structures, including the stages, are being rented or were previously used.

Elsewhere at the event, bio-based building materials will be featured including a seating area using durable straw panels made from renewable materials.

Many of the materials used in 2026 will be stored for reuse at future Festivals of the New European Bauhaus. Materials will be recycled if they cannot be salvaged, with disposal limited to just 5% of the elements and structures on site.

The main food supplier chosen for the event also places sustainability at the centre of its approach to catering. It plans food buying to reduce waste, prioritises local and organic produce when it comes to sourcing, sorts and composts food waste and recycles used cooking oils. There will be 14 recycling stations at the event site, with a dedicated team to help ensure each item is sorted correctly.

Two buses from Tootbus, which uses electric vehicles, will be used to take visitors on guided visits of architectural projects in Brussels, including Peterbos and Molenbeek, to explore what sustainable urban regeneration can look like in practice.

Think sustainable: tips for visitors

Festival visitors themselves can also help spread the spirit of sustainability.

Simple gestures like bringing reusable water bottles to the venue will help reduce packaging waste and litter. Water fountains will be available around the Festival to help visitors stay hydrated.

People coming to the event are also invited to consider walking or cycling to the venue to reduce carbon emissions from transport. There are cycle paths all around the venue location, the Art & History Museum, in Parc du Cinquantenaire, with entry possible from rue de la Loi, avenue de Tervueren, rue champ du Roi, rue Gérard, and rue Hobbema.

For the Brussels-Capital Region shared bicycle system Villo, bike station number 20 can be found right outside the museum. Moreover, the location is easily reachable by public transport, with train, tram, bus and metro stations within walking distance of the Festival site.