The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe announce the 40 shortlisted works for the 2026 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Awards. This year’s edition, supported by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme, received 410 nominations, which were thoroughly analysed and discussed by the international jury. The 40 shortlisted works exemplify how architects are responding to the responsibility of designing ethically, sustainably, and with long-term social impact.
The shortlisted works span 36 cities across 30 regions and 18 countries, illustrating the diversity of contemporary architecture in Europe and beyond. Austria hosts 1 work (Vienna); Belgium has 3 (Charleroi, Kortrijk, and Ixelles); Croatia features 2 (Dubrovnik and Zagreb); the Czech Republic hosts 1 (Karlovy Vary); and Denmark has 4 (Copenhagen-4). Finland hosts 1 (Tampere), while France features 9 works (Laguiole, Arles, La Bouëxière, Lit-et-Mixe, Vannes, Paris, Châtenay-Malabry, Arpajon, and Sallanches). Hungary has 1 work (Debrecen); Italy hosts 2 (Milan and Bologna); Lithuania features 1 (Panevėžys); Norway has 2 (Kautokeino and Sømna); Poland hosts 1 (Warsaw); Portugal features 1 (Lisbon); Slovakia has 1 (Bernolákovo); Slovenia hosts 1 (Ljubljana); Spain features 7 (Barcelona-2, Logroño, Olot, Palencia, Terrassa and Villanueva de Sigena), Sweden has 1 (Linköping) and Tunisia has 1 work (Kébili Governorate).
The 40 shortlisted works represent 15 different programmes, including culture (8), mixed use (6), education (5), landscape (4), single houses (3), and sport and leisure (3), alongside works addressing collective housing, infrastructure, urban planning, ephemeral architecture, health, industrial facilities, social welfare, and commerce. They encompass 21 regeneration works, 17 new constructions, and 2 extensions, illustrating the diverse strategies through which contemporary architecture addresses social, cultural, and environmental challenges.
| Name of work | | Architecture studio | | City / Country |
| Public Swimming Pool Großfeldsiedlung | | illiz architektur | | Vienna / Austria |
Charleroi Palais des Expositions | | architecten jan de vylder inge vinck - AgwA | | Charleroi / Belgium |
| Abby Kortrijk | | Barozzi Veiga - Tab Architects | | Kortrijk / Belgium |
| USquare Feder | | BC architects & studies - evr-Architecten - Callebaut architecten | | Ixelles / Belgium |
| Gruž Market in Dubrovnik | | ARP | | Dubrovnik / Croatia |
| Double Villa Bukovac | | njiric+ arhitekti | | Zagreb / Croatia |
| Multifunctional Hall in Imperial Spa | | Petr Hájek ARCHITEKTI | | Karlovy Vary / Czech Republic |
| Thoravej 29 | | pihlmann architects | | Copenhagen / Denmark |
| Grønningen-Bispeparken | | SLA | | Copenhagen / Denmark |
| Masterplan for Carlsberg Byen | | entasis
| | Copenhagen / Denmark |
| Centre for Health | | Dorte Mandrup A/S | | Copenhagen / Denmark |
| Tammela Stadium | | JKMM Architects | | Tampere / Filand |
| Multi-Service Cultural Centre Le Foirail | | Betillon & Freyermuth* Crypto Architectes | | Laguiole / France |
| Lot 8, LUMA Arles - Renovation of Le Magasin Électrique | | Atelier Luma - BC architects & studies - ASSEMBLE | | Arles / France |
| Josephine Baker - Marie-Jose Perec Sports and Cultural Centre | | onze04 | | La Bouëxière / France |
| M37 house in Contis | | BAST - LITTORAL | | Lit-et-Mixe / France |
| Third Place Flow | | Office Zola architectes | | Vannes / France |
| 206 Lafayette - Restructuring and Densification of a Mixed-Use Block Including Offices, Social Housing and Stores | | DATA ARCHITECTES THINK TANK architecture | | Paris / France |
| Seed School: Growing Schools from Rammed Earth, Wood, and Recycled Concrete | | a+ samueldelmas architectes urbanistes | | Châtenay-Malabry / France |
| 56 Social Dwellings | | Jean et Aline Harari architectes | | Arpajon / France |
| School of Music, Dance and Theater | | LINK architectes - Doucerain Lièvre Delziani Architectes | | Sallanches / France |
| The Dryer Workshop | | dmb műterem Ltd. | | Debrecen / Hungary |
| Bicocca Superlab | | BALANCE ARCHITETTURA | | Milan / Italy |
| The Project of Time - Restoration of the Former Church of San Barbaziano | | Studio Poggioli | | Bologna / Italy |
| Stasys Museum | | IMPLMNT Architects | | Panevėžys / Lithuania |
| Čoarvemátta - Sámi Theater, High School and Reindeer Herding School | | 70°N arkitektur - Joar Nango Snøhetta | | Kautokeino / Norway |
| Sundshopen - Norwegian Scenic Routes | | Rever & Drage Architects | | Sømna / Norway |
| Warsaw Uprising Mound | | TopoScape Archigrest | | Warsaw / Poland |
| Graça Funicular | | Atelier Bugio | | Lisbon / Portugal |
| Extension of a Primary School - New School Pavilion and Multipurpose Hall | | BAKYTA ARCHITEKTI | | Bernolákovo / Slovakia |
| Temporary Spaces for Slovenian National Theatre Drama | | Vidic Grohar Arhitekti | | Ljubljana / Slovenia |
| Rehabilitation of Vapor Cortès - Prodis 1923 | | H ARQUITECTES | | Terrassa / Spain |
| Interventions in the Monestry of Santa Maria de Sijena | | Pemán y Franco Sebastián Arquitectos - Sergio Sebastian Franco | | Villanueva de Sijena / Spain |
| 10K House | | TAKK // Mireia Luzárraga + Alejandro Muiño | | Barcelona / Spain |
| Round About Baths | | Leopold Banchini Architects | | Logroño / Spain |
| DH Ecoenergy Plant #1 | | FRPO Rodríguez & Oriol | | Palencia / Spain |
| GREENH@USE 140 Social Housing in 22@ BCN | | peris+toral.arquitectes, L3J Tècnics Associats | | Barcelona / Spain |
| Plaça Major - Public Space. Heritage, Housing and Urban Life | | Un Parell d'Arquitectes, Pep de Solà-Morales Arquitectes, Quim Domene | | Olot / Spain |
| Stjärnorp Castle Ruin | | Wikerstål Arkitekter / Tengbom Arkitekter | | Linköping / Sweden |
| Land of Wells | | Collective Bled el Abar | | Kébili Governorate / Tunisia |
Among the shortlisted works, 23 were commissioned by public clients, 12 by private clients, and 5 as mixed public-private partnerships (PPPs). Public investment continues to play a crucial role in shaping architecture that serves the wider community. Public works often provide the most ambitious opportunities for experimentation and innovation, while private and mixed commissions explore specialized programmes and alternative approaches.
Among the 40 works, 28 were designed by studios located in the same region as the work, emphasizing the value of local knowledge and engagement. Two works are transnational, involving multiple studios from different countries, each with a local team collaborating with an international partner. The remaining 10 works are transregional, designed by studios working outside the region of the work. This balance demonstrates both the strength of local expertise and the creative potential of cross-regional and international collaboration.
The EUmies Awards Days will take place on 11 and 12 May 2026 in Barcelona, within the framework of Barcelona World Capital of Architecture 2026. Events will include: the Awards Ceremony at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion; debates, conferences, and presentations with winners, finalists, clients, and past participants; the EUmies Awards exhibition; and the launch of the EUmies Awards Out&About programme.
