This competition invites architecture, design, and arts students aged 18 and above from across the EU to create a symbolic and celebratory object — such as a cup, medal, crown, or other form — that embodies the values of the New European Bauhaus both conceptually and physically and will become the first official trophy of the New European Bauhaus Prizes.
The NEB Prizes celebrate outstanding projects and ideas that embody the NEB values of sustainability, beauty, and inclusion. Organised annually by the European Commission, they showcase achievements that contribute to the development of the New European Bauhaus on the ground, fostering creativity, interdisciplinarity, and community engagement.
Shortlisted teams from the NEB Trophy competition will be invited to Brussels to present their design at the New European Bauhaus Festival from 9–13 June 2026, with travel and accommodation covered for up to two team members. The winning design will be unveiled during the Festival and produced in time for the NEB Prizes 2026 Award Ceremony in September, becoming the official trophy awarded at the next edition of the NEB Prizes.
Eligibility
Applicants may participate individually or in teams of up to two people, and they should provide the following administrative documents:
- Proof of residency in and/or citizenship of an EU Member State (via a scan of a passport photo page or national ID card) of each team member. Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.
- Proof of enrolment in a recognized design-related, arts, or architecture program at a higher education institution, or in art & design universities in the EU, for each team member.
- All supporting documents must be in English or accompanied by an English translation, and collected in one single PDF file,
Sketches of the Trophy Design
Applicants must submit a single A1 sheet in color (presented in a digital PDF format) that visually conveys both the design concept of the trophy and an illustration of its production process. This sheet should include clear, explanatory drawings and/or renderings showing dimensions, proportions, and materials, and may combine sketches, diagrams, and visual references to provide a comprehensive overview of the proposal.
The sheet should report the name of the applicant(s) and their school/university, and the chosen title for the design. The file should be compressed to a manageable size (up to 10MB), to allow for easy sharing and archiving.
Rationale
In addition, applicants must submit a written rationale (in English, no longer than 1,500 words) to describe the object, outlining the concept behind its design and how it relates to the New European Bauhaus values. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the New European Bauhaus Compass as a framework. The rationale should also include a description of the following elements:
- Materials, shapes and colors, with attention to environmental sustainability, circular and regenerative approaches, as well as functionality and durability.
- Design process and symbolic meaning of the object
- Production process, including a concise feasibility study explaining how the trophy can be made, stored, transported, and awarded. As the trophy will need to be produced in multiple units, attention should be given to its replicability.
- Any other useful technical specification (dimension, weight, etc.)
Other Requirements and Restrictions
- This competition is promoted by the European Commission and administered by its appointed contractor(s)
- Submissions to this competition (NEB Trophy 2026) are not eligible for resubmission under the NEB Prizes
- Applicants ensure that their submission does not infringe any third-party rights and has not been previously submitted or exhibited.
- Applicants warrant that all designs and sketches are their own, wholly original work.
- Permissive Use: The winning applicant grants the sponsor, along with affiliates or agents, the exclusive, unlimited, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, and royalty-free right to use, reproduce, adapt, modify, display, distribute, or otherwise exploit their design, sketches, or renderings.
Deadline and application method: Submissions must be made before 12 am (CET) on 31 January 2026, exclusively via the EU Survey platform. Submissions made past this date will not be considered.
Submitted designs must adhere to the following guidelines:
- Form: The trophy should take the shape of a poetic, symbolic object (e.g., cup, crown, medal, sculpture, etc.) that honors the commitment and dedication of the NEB Prize winners.
- Symbolism: The design must embody the values of the New European Bauhaus — sustainability, aesthetics, inclusion — and reflect its celebratory and inspirational spirit. Analysis of the previous editions of the NEB Prizes is encouraged to improve the understanding of the spirit of these awards, and the type of projects that are normally awarded.
- Personalization: it should be possible to easily integrate a personalized message (e.g. the name of the laureate, the title of the project, etc.) into the object.
- Materials: Applicants should prioritize regenerative, sustainable, or upcycled materials, with an emphasis on durability and feasibility of production and replication.
- Fabrication: Innovative production processes (e.g., circular and regenerative design, digital fabrication, low-carbon methods) are encouraged.
- Budget and scale consciousness: While creativity is encouraged, designs should be feasible and cost-efficient. Production costs should remain moderate.
Submissions will be judged according to the following criteria:
| Criterion | Points | Description |
| Alignment with NEB Values | 60 | To what extent does the design reflect the NEB’s guiding principles of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion? Has the NEB Compass been used as a framework? |
| Concept | 30 | How well does the design convey a poetic and celebratory meaning? Does it embody the spirit of the NEB Prizes as a symbolic object? |
| Feasibility | 30 | How realistic is it to produce the design within budget and time? Is it durable, transportable, and practical as a trophy? |
| Presentation Quality | 15 | How clear, attractive, and convincing is the submission (portfolio, A1 board, rationale)? |
| Originality & Creativity | 15 | How innovative and distinctive is the design compared to existing symbolic forms? |
| Total | 150 |
Selection and Judging Process
The competition will take place in two phases:
- Shortlisting
- After the submission deadline, the jury will evaluate all eligible entries and assign points on the basis of the selection criteria described above.
- A first shortlist of applications will be defined. The best design proposals will then undergo a feasibility assessment, considering materials, production methods, cost, and durability.
- During this phase, the shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide additional clarifications and technical details, also with the objective of producing prototypes.
- Then, 10 finalist projects will be shortlisted and announced publicly.
- Public voting
- The 10 finalist projects will be exhibited during the NEB Festival 2026. On this occasion, digital public voting will be activated.
- The project that will receive the highest number of votes at the closing of the NEB Festival days will be the winner and celebrated during the Closing ceremony.
Timeline
- 30 September 2025: Official launch of the competition at the NEB Prizes 2025 Award Ceremony.
- 31 January 2026: Deadline for submissions for the concept phase.
- February-March 2026: Jury evaluation
- March–April 2026: Feasibility study and refinement of the best designs, including the commissioning of prototypes.
- April 2026: Final jury decision and announcement of the 10 finalist projects.
- 9-13 June 2026: Exhibition of the finalist projects at the NEB Festival 2026. Opening of the public voting. Announcement of the winner.
- July–September 2026: Final production of the winning trophy design.
- September 2026: Official use of the produced trophy during the NEB Prizes 2026 Award Ceremony.
The best designs will be awarded with the following benefits:
- For all the finalists (10 projects, max two persons per project), an invitation to Brussels to join the NEB Festival 2026, including coverage of travel and accommodation expenses. The shortlisted teams will also have the chance to see their ideas materialised and presented to a wider audience during the Festival.
- For the winning design, the production of the object in series, to be used as the official trophy of the New European Bauhaus Prizes 2026;
- Visibility of the winning design and its authors through the communication channels of the European Commission, including social media and press related to the NEB Festival 2026.
- Invitation of the winning designer(s) to the NEB Prizes ceremony 2026
