new european bauhaus returns with strategies for affortable housing

NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS FOSTERS INCLUSIVE COMMON SPACES

The third edition of the New European Bauhaus festival takes place from 9-13 June, at Brussels Parc du Cinquantenaire, under the theme ‘Life. Spaces. Buildings’. The festival, returning every two years, connects architects and designers from Europe and beyond to show how the built environment can foster community, strengthen resilience, and boost competitiveness to drive the clean transition. For the 2026 edition, activities focusing on democratic engagement explore affordable housing as a foundation for inclusive societies, showing practical examples of how citizens can be involved in shaping their communities.

New European Bauhaus festival returns from June 9-13, 2026 | all images courtesy of New European Bauhaus Festival

DEMOCRATIC DESIGN FOCUSED ON PEOPLE, CRAFT AND DURABILITY

The New European Bauhaus, organized by the European Commission, is a growing transdisciplinary movement of communities and creators, inspired by the Bauhaus art school, developed by architects in the early 20th century in Germany. Since 2020, it bridges science, technology, art and culture, placing together architects, designers, and urban planners to share their best practices in democratic design focused on people, craft, and durability.

Framing ecological methodologies into forward design thinking, the New European Bauhaus Festival places materiality at the center, translating this vision directly into the event’s spatial organization. Circular consumption is manifested physically through rented modular structures and the reuse of custom-produced elements, ensuring that any non-reusable materials are funneled back into the recycling loop.

projects and prototypes will be on site at the NEB Academy Piazza

URBAN PLANNING THROUGH DOZEN OF HUMAN CENTERED PROJECTS

From 9-13, June, the New European Bauhaus 2026 festival begins with opening comments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa. Its programme unfolds through a series of talks featuring key architectural and cultural voices, including Hanna Bondar, architect and Member of Parliament in Ukraine; Lisa De Visscher, City Architect of the Brussels-Capital Region; Finn Williams, City Architect of Malmö; Mette Skjold, Senior Partner and CEO at SLA Architects; Anna Heringer, architect responsible for construction of the METI School in Rudrapur, Bangladesh; and “architectural psychologist” Michal Matlon, among other leading figures.

During five days the event bridges theoretical dialogue with physical activation through exhibitions, workshops and research-driven projects, exploring democratic ways to make cities and communities more inclusive. Among these activities, representatives of around 80 projects and prototypes are on site at the NEB Academy Piazza to talk about innovative, sustainable designs and technologies. The projects span topics around affordable urban housing and material innovation, introducing immersive experiences to co-create art from forest biomass, as well as a showcase of construction and insulation panels, furniture, and tiles crafted from recycled and natural resources.

a series of exhibitions, conferences and workshops focus on the theme ‘Life. Spaces. Buildings’