Urban areas are the source of many of today’s environmental challenges – not surprisingly, since two out of three Europeans live in towns and cities. Local governments and authorities can provide the commitment and innovation needed to tackle and resolve many of these problems.
The European Commission’s green city awards include two titles. The European Green Capital (EGC) for cities over 100.000 habitants and the European Green Leaf (EGL) for smaller cities as of 20.000 habitants. The awards recognise and reward local action towards a transition to a greener, more sustainable future. Winning cities are including their citizens in this transition, improve the urban environment, combat pollution and mitigate and prepare for more resilience to climate change. A greener city is a place that attracts investors, tourists and provides a better quality of live for their citizens.
The awards give impetus to bolder actions and spur local pride. Frontrunning cities show us the way how the green transition can be done. We can all learn from them.
Learn more about the Awards’ initiative and purpose.
Find out more about how your city can apply for the European Green Capital and EU Green Leaf Awards
Discover everything about past, current winners, and future winners and finalists.
Discover how you, as citizen, can make a change for your community, city, country and even for the planet through simple actions.
Winners and finalists of the Green Capital and Green Leaf titles
Discover previous editions of the Award below. Using the map, you can navigate through excellent role models for green cities all over Europe.
The European Green Capital Book collects the testimonials and visions of the past winning cities upon their EU Green Capital year experience. You can go through the Green Book here. Scroll over a city and find good practices, assessment reports and legacy reports.
Learn more
Toolkits will provide you with various examples and ideas about how your city can manage waste, reduce energy demand, become more resilient and more!
Access all previous technical reports and jury assessments for EU Green Capital and Leaf winners
The Awards are proud partners of The Cities Heat Detox campaign, working together to tackle urban heat and build climate resilience. Find out more!
Discover everything you need to know about the Awards, including high-resolution images, brand assets, and key information.
To see the Newsletter Archive please click here
Events
The European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards Ceremony will be held at the National Art Gallery on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
Local and regional leaders will gather in Brussels for the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony 2025, celebrating climate leadership and strengthening multilevel cooperation.
Águeda officially kicks off its European Green Leaf 2026 year with a public Opening Ceremony that highlights local green action, youth engagement and community leadership, with the participation of EU and national representatives.
Guimarães officially launches its year as European Green Capital 2026 with a high-level Opening Ceremony, bringing together EU institutions, national authorities and city leaders to celebrate cities as drivers of the green transition.
Featuring speakers from 2027 European Green Cities, the European Green Cities Workshop gives important information to candidate cities applying for the 2028 European Green Capital and European Green Leaf awards.
Celebrated its annual Energy Week, the city of Vaasa will start its year as the 2026 Green Leaf with an opening ceremony, bringing leaders from across the EU and highlighting its status as an environmentally innovative community.
