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Environment

Winning cities - European Green Capital & European Green Leaf Awards

European Green Capital Award

Largo do Toura in Guimarães, the 2026 European Green Capital Award winner

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.

Vilnius Picture - Winner 2025

The Lithuanian capital was elected as European Green Capital 2025 for its strong commitment to sustainability while having a realistic and down to earth approach.

Valencia - winning cities
The city earned the European Green Capital 2024 title due to its past and current achievements in the field of sustainable tourism, climate neutrality, as well as fair and inclusive green transition.
aerial view of Tallinn the 2023 European Green Capital

Tallinn is characterised by the diverse nature of its landscapes and communities, which also serve as habitats for rare species.

View of Grenoble's main lift

Located in the Alps, east of the Rhone valley corridor, Greater Grenoble is called the ‘Alps capital’ due to its size.

Aerial view of Lahti, the 2021 European Green Capital

Lahti, the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region of Finland, has a population of 119,068.

  1. 2025
    Vilnius

    Lithuania

  2. 2024
    Valencia

    Spain

  3. 2023
    Tallinn

    Estonia

  4. 2022
    Grenoble

    France

  5. 2021
    Lahti

    Finland

  6. 2020
    Lisbon

    Portugal

  7. 2019
    Oslo

    Norway

  8. 2018
    Nijmegen

    Netherlands

  9. 2017
    Essen

    Germany

  10. 2016
    Ljubljana

    Slovenia

  11. 2015
    Bristol

    United Kingdom

  12. 2014
    Copenhagen

    Denmark

  13. 2013
    Nantes

    France

  14. 2012
    Vitoria-Gasteiz

    Spain

  15. 2011
    Hamburg

    Germany

  16. 2010
    Stockholm

    Sweden

European Green Leaf Award

a street in the centre of Águeda with colourful umbrella hanging between buildings

As a European Green Leaf winner for 2026, Águeda demonstrates how a city can seamlessly blend economic growth, cultural vitality and environmental stewardship to create a vibrant, sustainable future for its residents and beyond.

Aerial view of Vaasa

Recognised for its exemplary integration of energy use into education activities, Vaasa empowers its young citizens with the tools and knowledge to contribute to a sustainable future. As a European Green Leaf winner for 2026, Vaasa is a strong example of how innovation, collaboration and a deep resp

Winning city - Treviso 2025

With a population of almost 94,000 inhabitants, Treviso is a vibrant city, now recognised as sustainable example among small European cities.

Winning City - Viladecans 2025

Viladecans is approaching environmental commitment through a multi-level approach in a very convincing and joyful way and is focusing its whole strategy for their year as European Green Leaf winner on two main pillars: the ecological transition and promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Elsinore_Map
The motto of its Green Leaf year is “sharing is caring”, with citizens and local businesses involved in achieving a green transition.
Velenje_Map
Velenje was one of the first cities in Slovenia to install a separate waste collection system and has been improving waste management ever since.
Landscape Valongo Iconic Photo

Valongo is located in the North of Portugal, District of Porto and is part of the Metropolitan Area of Porto.

Landscape Winterswijk Iconic Photo

Winterswijk is located in the East of the Netherlands and provides space for a total of 28,852 inhabitants.

Landscape Gabrovo Iconic Photo

Gabrovo Municipality is situated in central Bulgaria

Landscape Lappeenranta Iconic Photo

Lappeenranta is a municipality located in south-eastern Finland with its urban centre situated on the shores of Lake Saimaa.

  1. 2025
    Treviso and Viladecans

    Italy and Spain

  2. 2024
    Elsinore and Velenje

    Denmark and Slovenia

  3. 2022
    Valongo and Winterswijk

    Portugal and The Netherlands

  4. 2021
    Lappeenranta and Gabrovo

    Finland and Bulgaria

  5. 2020
    Limerick and Mechelen

    Ireland and Belgium

  6. 2019
    Cornellà de Llobregat and Horst aan de Maas

    Spain and The Netherlands

  7. 2018
    Leuven and Växjö

    Belgium and Sweden

  8. 2017
    Galway

    Ireland

  9. 2015
    Mollet del Valles and Torres Vedras

    Spain and Portugal

Click on a city to find good practices, assessment reports and legacy reports.