With over 70% of Europeans living in urban areas, cities are key to implementing the European Green Deal and fostering a sustainable, low-carbon society. Since 2010, the European Green Capital Award has recognised cities’ efforts to become greener and cleaner.

On 27 November 2024, the European Commission announced Guimarães, Portugal, as the European Green Capital of 2026 thanks to its commitment to continuously improving sustainable development and its results in seven environmental management areas. The city has made sustainability a central part of its culture, as exemplified in its motto, ‘One Planet City’.

The Commission announced the winners of the 2026 European Green Cities Awards on Wednesday (27 Nov), with Guimarães (Portugal) taking the European Green Capital prize and the European Green Leaf award for smaller cities going to Águeda (Portugal) and Vaasa (Finland).

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image, acquired on 17 November 2024, shows Guimarães from above.