European Prize for Urban Public Space 2026

Competition Brief

Intent

The prize for European urban public space of the year 2026 is a competition held every two years that gives recognition to the most extraordinary interventions in the development of public areas in European cities. It pays special attention to those works that are characterized by high quality of architecture and urban planning, social impact, environmental consciousness, and providing the community with life. The award is non-monetary and is given to both the creators and the promoters of the projects respectively.

Purpose

The main goal of the award is to bring to light the best public space projects that not only represent the current urban issues but also the design trends in this field. One of the expectations from the competition is to incite critical debates around public space, to raise the awareness of its social and cultural functions, and to contribute to a better living environment in the European urban areas.

Requirements

The public spaces that are open to submission must be existing and found within the European continent, as recognized by the Council of Europe. The time frame for project completion is from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025. The types of projects eligible for the prize are creation, recovering, or enhancing public space that has never been entered in the competition before. All submissions are free of charge.

Jury

For the 2026 edition jury consisting of professional experts who have different views in the areas of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and culture will evaluate the projects. The jury composed of a president, a secretary, and several members.

President
Eva Prats – Architect

Secretary
Lluís Ortega – Architect

Members
Angelika Fitz – Architect and Director of a major European architectural institution
Monika Konrad – Architect and Urban Planner
Inês Lobo – Architect and Curator
Bas Smets – Architect and Landscape Designer
Philip Ursprung – Architectural Historian

Fees

There are no entry fees for this prize. Participation is offered at no cost to enhance accessibility and encourage broad participation from public space practitioners.

Rewards

The prize is honorary and acknowledges both the authors and promoters of the winning work, emphasising recognition and dissemination rather than financial awards.

Dates

The process takes place in two rounds: an initial selection of 25 works in the first round and a final evaluation of five finalists in the second round.

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The European Prize for Urban Public Space 2026 is a highly transparent event that is organized by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, and it features a jury made up of architects, urban planners, landscape professionals, and theorists with a vast amount of public experience and a high level of professional discretion. The award is professional and institutional, not a promotional contest, and it is held in Europe for the public space projects that have been built. The lack of monetary prizes is consistent with its honorary nature, thus regard and dissemination being the main value. The realistic advantage for the participants is professional visibility, critical validation, and inclusion in the archives. The judging panel’s expertise is a probable factor in the award’s being seen as credible and of high standard.

Conclusion

The European Prize for Urban Public Space 2026 is a high-profile event that happens every two years and recognizes the best public space interventions in Europe. It will be a major urban discourse reference thanks to its criteria of architectural quality, social impact, and urban relevance. The award’s honorary character and its broad eligibility criteria indicate that the major point is not the financial award but peer acknowledgment and critical recognition of the public space work done. The prize, by its archive and catalogue, captures and shares the significant projects thus making a contribution to the discussion about the future of urban public areas.

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