Brussels, Art & History Museum, Parc du Cinquantenaire, 9-13 June 2026
“First life, then spaces, then buildings.
The other way around never works.”
(Jan Gehl, Danish architect)
Buildings and common spaces should be designed around the people who live in them. This is why communities were placed at the heart of the 2026 Festival of the New European Bauhaus. The Festival created a space to understand people’s needs and aspirations and showcased projects that successfully reflect them. In doing so, it demonstrated how an inclusive, sustainable and high-quality built environment can foster community, strengthen resilience and boost competitiveness.
The biennial Festival showcases the best practices of the New European Bauhaus, the European Commission initiative that brings the clean transition to our built environments and improves everyday life for everyone. It aims to inspire communities to reimagine spaces, design better living environments and drive sustainability and inclusivity.
The third edition of the Festival of the New European Bauhaus brought together communities, creators and changemakers over five days to celebrate creativity, explore innovative ideas and shape a more inclusive, sustainable and vibrant future.
The 2026 edition of the NEB Festival focused on Democratic Engagement, highlighting how citizens can be involved in shaping their communities, and on Affordable Housing as the foundation for strong, inclusive societies.
Photos and videos were taken during the Festival and may be used after the event (e.g. on websites, social media, and in publications). For details about how your personal data is processed and how to exercise your rights, see the privacy notice.
Explore the Festival of the New European Bauhaus
The 2026 edition of the Festival of the New European Bauhaus took over Brussels with three pillars of activities: Forum, Fair, and Fest. In parallel, Satellite Events brought the movement to local communities in Europe and across the world.
Live debates on the future of Europe, with a focus on affordable, sustainable and inclusive living.
Innovative concepts and prototypes that are already transforming Europe.
Music, dance, art, and hands-on creative workshops celebrating the movement.
Events showcasing NEB values across Europe and beyond.
Latest News
On Friday at the Festival of the New European Bauhaus, visitors decided what the first-ever NEB Trophy will look like. The winner, Luca Ambrosi from Italy, was announced during the Awards Ceremony on Friday by Commissioner Jessika Roswall.
Europe’s transition to a circular economy can be seen in the projects showcased at the Festival of the New European Bauhaus (NEB), attendees heard as the event closed on June 12.
Clear recognition of projects that meet high sustainable, architectural and social criteria is needed to increase consumer and private-sector demand, attendees at the Festival of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) heard on June 11.
