New European Bauhaus Prizes 2026 awarded, with the special water-resilience prize going to Romania's ECO H2O

The European Commission has awarded the 2026 New European Bauhaus Prizes to 13 winners from several EU countries, Ukraine and North Macedonia, along with winners from Japan and Brazil who won the international competition within the prizes. Now in their sixth edition, the prizes reward outstanding projects, concepts and ideas that combine sustainability, inclusion and aesthetics, showing how the lives of people and communities can be enriched by combining culture and technology, innovation and design. Romania's ECO H2O wins the water resilience prize. The special prize for water resilience went to ECO H2O from Romania, which created the first nature-based wastewater treatment system in rural Romania, in the UNESCO-listed village of Viscri (Bunești commune, Brașov County). According to the project's prize application, the Mihai Eminescu Trust used constructed ponds and natural filtration by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to protect groundwater, preserve historic buildings and ensure public health, while community-led maintenance supports long-term water resilience and offers a replicable, cost-effective model for small communities. The prizes were awarded in two categories: established projects ("New European Bauhaus Champions") and promising initiatives by younger candidates ("New European Bauhaus Rising Stars"). The 2026 edition also includes the special prize for water resilience and international prizes for projects from Brazil and Japan. In addition to the 2026 prizes, 20 small municipalities received the New European Bauhaus Boost for Small Municipalities prize, highlighting the crucial role those communities play in shaping a more sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future. This new initiative is supported by a European Parliament pilot project. All winners received a cash prize of up to EUR 20,000 and a dedicated communication package, as well as specific advice and mentoring support to improve their visibility. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Over the past six years, this competition has shown the best of European creativity in building a sustainable, inclusive and beautiful future. This year's special prize highlights the importance of water resilience and of improving how we manage water -- one of our most precious resources. And the international prizes show how the values of the New European Bauhaus resonate beyond Europe, from Brazil to Japan."