What it is
The European Green Capital is a one-year title the European Commission gives to a city with a strong environmental record. It grew out of an initiative signed by 15 cities in Tallinn in 2006 and was launched by the Commission in 2008; Stockholm was the first holder, in 2010. Since 2015 a sister award, the European Green Leaf, has covered towns of 20,000 to 100,000 people. Each year there is one Green Capital and up to two Green Leaf cities, according to the Commission’s background page.
Holders on futurehubs include Guimarães, Green Capital in 2026, and Lahti, which held the title in 2021. Heilbronn follows in 2027 and Zaragoza in 2028.
How the title is awarded
Cities apply well before their title year. The 2028 competition opened on 8 December 2025 and closed on 1 April 2026. Applicants describe their performance on seven indicators: air quality; water; biodiversity, green areas and land use; waste and circular economy; noise; climate change mitigation; and climate change adaptation. For each one they set out the present situation, what they have done over the last five to ten years and their plans.
An expert panel reviews the applications, the Commission draws up a shortlist, and the finalists present their strategy and plans for the title year to a jury. The jury includes the Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency, the Covenant of Mayors and the European Environmental Bureau. Winners are named at a ceremony in the current Green Capital each October. Past winners may not apply again, and a city cannot apply for both titles in the same year. The full rules are on the application page.
The Green Capital receives EUR 600,000 and each Green Leaf winner EUR 200,000. Cities in EEA countries outside the LIFE programme can win the title but not the money. Winners must report on their activities once their year ends.
What recent rounds show
For 2027 the jury gave Heilbronn top scores in air quality, water, noise, climate adaptation and the circular economy. For 2028, 27 cities competed, and the jury cited Zaragoza’s strong governance and long-term commitment, according to the 2028 announcement. Benidorm and Estarreja share the 2028 Green Leaf.
Why it matters for cities
The application itself is a structured self-assessment against EU environmental targets, and the Commission says that most cities can complete it with the resources they already have. Previous winners and finalists join the European Green Capital Network, and Green Leaf cities have their own network. Bistrița in Romania is among the Green Leaf Network’s members.
Following the title year
The holder city runs a year-long public programme; Guimarães also hosted the European Urban Resilience Forum in June 2026. The Commission publishes jury reports and news on the award homepage.