Guimarães holds a pivotal place in Portugal’s history, as the events that led to the nation’s sovereignty in the 12th century unfolded there. Today, this historic city has evolved into a beacon of cultural and environmental excellence, mixing its rich heritage with a forward-thinking commitment to sustainability.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its well-preserved historic centre, Guimarães has since earned several prestigious titles: European Capital of Culture in 2012, European City of Sport in 2013 and the most sustainable municipality in Portugal for three consecutive years. These remarkable achievements underscore the city’s innovative spirit and dedication to progress, despite its relatively modest population of 156 830 residents. Guimarães has embraced sustainability as a cornerstone of its local culture. Innovative businesses are increasingly aligning with the city's environmentally conscious policies, fostering a new industrial culture and enhancing its ecosystem of innovation. Education has been at the heart of this transformation. Since 2015, the city’s environmental education programme, PEGADAS, has played a crucial role in raising awareness and empowering the community to adopt sustainable practices.
The municipal ecological footprint initiative serves as a guiding framework, steering Guimarães toward becoming a ‘One-Planet’ city. As a proud member of Zero Waste Europe, Guimarães has pioneered groundbreaking strategies such as the PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) system in Portugal and the RRRCICLO initiative, which promotes circular economy principles through effective communication and community engagement.
Air quality is another area where Guimarães shines, with 97% of its residents enjoying ‘good’ or ‘very good’ air. Yet, the city remains committed to doing even better, creating a healthier, more liveable environment where families can thrive, children can grow and older generations can age with dignity.
As the European Green Capital 2026, Guimarães exemplifies how sustainability can be deeply embedded into the fabric of a community. With its residents, national partnerships, and European collaborations, the city is forging a greener, brighter future for all.
Guimarães is proud to be a signatory of the Green City Accord, a European initiative committed to creating cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments.
Read more
For more details, explore Guimarães' application and presentation, which provide an in-depth look at their initiatives and accomplishments. Additionally, the Jury Report and the EGCA Technical Assessment Synopsis Report - Award Cycle 2026 are accessible for further insights.
Watch the Awards Ceremony
Live from Guimarães, on 8 October 2026 from 21:00 (CET), celebrating cities across Europe that are leading the way towards a greener, healthier and more sustainable future.
During this special evening, the European Commission will announce the winners of the European Green Capital 2028 and European Green Leaf 2028 Awards.
Citizen Diaries
Ana Pinheira is an ecologist based in Guimarães, contributing to the city’s transformation as European Green Capital 2026. Currently pursuing a PhD, and with a background in environmental science and ecology, her work focuses on biodiversity monitoring and how ecosystems respond to human activity.
At just 19 years old, José is already contributing to the environmental transition of Guimarães, the European Green Capital 2026. A former athlete and now coordinator of the Department of Ethics and Inclusion at his local sports club, Xico Andebol, he combines sport and community engagement.
Susana is helping shape a more sustainable future by placing education at the centre of environmental action. As an Erasmus+ coordinator at her school, she connects local learning with international collaboration, ensuring that sustainability is not only taught but experienced.
In a city where sustainability is part of everyday life, Hugo Pinto has grown up surrounded by this transformation. A secondary school student in Guimarães, he studies science and technology while actively contributing to the city’s environmental initiatives.
Tiago Duarte, 22, is one of the many citizens helping drive the environmental transition of Guimarães, European Green Capital 2026. Born and educated in the city, he recently completed a degree in environmental technology and management and is now preparing to continue his studies with a master’s in
For Luís Pliteiro, Guimarães is more than a hometown – it is the foundation of his commitment to building a greener, more resilient city. Luís develops local sustainability initiatives and projects at the Landscape Laboratory.
Related links
News about Guimarães
Through Eco-Parlamento, students across Guimarães research environmental challenges, debate solutions and develop proposals for their city. In 2026, the winning idea will receive dedicated funding, turning young people’s participation into visible local action.
Organised as part of the 'Guimarães 2026 – European Green Capital' programme, the International Conference on Sustainability in Sport, Eco Parliament and Green Week Guimarães events brought communities together to promote climate action, education, active citizenship and a more sustainable future.
As European Green Capital 2026, Guimarães is at the forefront of Europe’s environmental transition.
On 8 January 2026, Águeda (Portugal) officially launched its year as European Green Leaf 2026 with a public Opening Ceremony at the Águeda arts centre. The event brought together local, regional, national and European representatives to celebrate Águeda’s achievements in sustainability.
For Guimarães, biodiversity isn’t an afterthought, it is the city’s compass.
Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is leading a nature-based approach to urban cooling. Through its Green Radial Strategy and data-driven planning, the city is tackling extreme heat while preserving cultural heritage— offering a model for historic cities facing climate challenges.
The mayor of Guimarães and acting director-general of the European Commission's environment department signed the letter of intent for the city’s title as European Green Capital 2026.
The three winners will receive prize funds, as well as the benefits of recognition, such as attracting investment opportunities and building a better quality of life for citizens.
It is Guimarães’ goal to detox the heating and cooling sector in order to save energy, become more resilient, and create an environment of comfort and wellbeing for its citizens.
Implementing an integrated approach to water management in Guimarães has led to remarkable water-saving results.