Once again this year, the European Commission is evaluating the quality of Spain’s submissions to the New Bauhaus Awards competition. This time, five initiatives—out of a total of 21—have been selected as finalists and have already been recognized as exemplary for their creativity, focus on sustainability, and ability to transform our cities and regions.
Now, in addition to the evaluation by the expert jury, European citizens have the opportunity to decide who will win the People’s Choice Award. Voting will be open until July 10 via the Commission’s website, linked here.
The NEB initiatives selected for 2026 are located in Alicante, Zaragoza, Madrid, and Barcelona. Below, you can find their main features:
Champions Category. Strand A. Includes projects that have already been completed with demonstrable results.
La Marjal Floodable Urban Park (Alicante). Theme: Improving circularity, sustainability, and innovation.
What was once an area vulnerable to frequent flooding has been transformed into a 3.6-hectare floodable urban park. La Marjal protects neighboring neighborhoods from heavy rains through natural wetland systems. It also reduces the “heat island” effect and has created a valuable refuge for biodiversity, with more than 120 recorded bird species. It stands out for its application of NEB values, as well as the principle of citizen participation, and now features a new recreational space with ponds, native vegetation, and trails.
Redesign Your School Playground (Zaragoza). Theme: Improving Circularity, Sustainability, and Innovation.
This is an initiative by the Zaragoza City Council that is transforming school playgrounds dominated by concrete into green, inclusive spaces that are resilient to climate change. It aims to address extreme heat and improve the well-being of teachers and students. The proposal is based on nature-inspired solutions: planting trees, creating shaded areas, and installing permeable paving. The most innovative aspect is that the students themselves, along with their families and teachers, participate in the design of each playground, tailoring it to the needs of their educational community. Seven schools have already been renovated, and the goal is to reach 72 schools.
Madrid Río (Madrid). Theme: Strengthening local democracy and inclusion.
The transformation of the Manzanares riverfront is one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects. The underground relocation of the M-30 highway made it possible to create a six-kilometer-long linear park, featuring 150 hectares of green spaces, more than 30,000 trees, and an extensive network of pedestrian and bicycle paths that has reconnected the city with its river. It has improved environmental quality as well as urban cohesion, as it has replaced a traffic barrier with an accessible and inclusive public space, making it a significant example of the implementation of the New European Bauhaus initiative.
Rising Stars Category. Strand B. This category covers emerging projects, innovative ideas, and proposals that are still in development and have the potential to bring about significant urban transformation.
Terra-Mosaic: Rural Renaissance. Theme: Enhancing circularity, sustainability, and innovation.
This is an innovative proposal that seeks to revitalize rural areas in Spain by reclaiming abandoned farmland and implementing regenerative agriculture models. The project proposes a digital platform that connects urban residents interested in investing with young farmers who need access to land to carry out their work. In this way, it simultaneously addresses various challenges, such as rural depopulation, soil degradation, and the need to promote food systems that are more sustainable and resilient to climate change.
Proximity Community (Barcelona Metropolitan Area). Theme: Facilitators of the NEB Transformation.
This initiative, located in the La Pau neighborhood, aims to transform the current Dani Jarque Sports Complex into a hybrid space for social and community functions. It seeks to repurpose a large portion of the underutilized sports facilities and give them new uses, such as:
- Temporary social housing for people affected by renovation work.
- Urban gardens and green spaces.
- Facilities for social interaction and support.
