The New European Bauhaus is an initiative of the European Commission, launched by President Ursula von der der Leyen in her September 2020 State of the Union address. It draws inspiration from the original 1919 Bauhaus school to connect the EU Green Deal with architecture, art, design, and urban transformation, aiming to reshape living spaces through sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics. Based in Brussels, it operates without a standalone organisational structure, relying on Commission coordination and community input.
Key milestones include the January 2021 co-design phase, involving roundtables and ambassadors; a September 2021 framework communication shifting to delivery; and the first Festival in June 2022 at Gare Maritime and Mont des Arts, featuring forum debates, a fair of prototypes, festivities, and over 200 satellite events across Europe. The 2024 edition, held 9-13 April at Parc du Cinquantenaire and the Art & History Museum, drew thousands onsite and online, with 250 artists, exhibitors, speakers, and policymakers; it launched the NEB Academy and awarded prizes in categories like reconnecting with nature and circular economies.
Activities span annual festivals—the third set for 9-13 June 2026—prizes awarded since 2022, a proposed Horizon Mission for neighborhood upgrades, and support for 20 local projects via technical assistance. In 2023, it informed EU-Ukraine talks on city rebuilding. The NEB Lab enlists "Friends" from companies and local governments.