Zaragoza, Benidorm and Estarreja have won the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf 2028 awards

The winning cities of the 2028 European Green Capital Awards were announced on 8 October 2026 at a ceremony held in Guimarães (Portugal), the 2026 winner of the award.

Zaragoza (Spain) has been named European Green Capital 2028, whilst Benidorm (Spain) and Estarreja (Portugal) will share the European Green Leaf 2028 award, which recognises the leadership of smaller cities in environmental action.

What makes these winning cities special?

The jury for the European Green Capital 2028 was impressed by Zaragoza’s sound management and long-term commitment, which helped the city successfully respond to growing climate challenges. Its approach demonstrates the extent to which ambitious environmental action can go hand in hand with social resilience and a community-led approach.

Benidorm and Estarreja also impressed the jury with their firm commitment to creating greener, healthier and more sustainable places to live.

Benidorm stood out for successfully managing the pressures associated with mass tourism, whilst maintaining environmental protection and sustainable development. Estarreja was recognised as a clear example of ecological transformation, having successfully overcome its industrial legacy through collaborative action.

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said:

“Our cities are at the heart of Europe’s environmental transition. It is in these cities that we can bring policies to life and achieve visible change by bringing nature back into our neighbourhoods to cool our streets, reduce air, water and noise pollution, and improve waste management, with the aim of creating healthier and more sustainable places where people can live and thrive. The winners of the 2028 European Green Capital and European Green Leaf awards are examples of the change already taking place in cities across Europe. I sincerely congratulate Zaragoza, Benidorm and Estarreja. Their commitment and creativity demonstrate what can be achieved when local action, citizen participation and ambition come together. Many cities in Spain and Portugal are true pioneers in the field of urban sustainability, and I hope that their experience will inspire many more European cities and accelerate the transition towards greener and more resilient communities.”

Their achievements show that cities of all sizes across Europe can make a real difference when it comes to tackling environmental challenges and improving the lives of their communities.

The ambitions of these cities are closely aligned with the direction Europe is taking. The Nature Restoration Regulation sets a clear target for urban areas: there must be no net loss of urban green space or tree cover by 2030, and there must be a steady increase in the years that follow.

The 2028 winning cities have already turned this ambition into reality, demonstrating that greener, more biodiverse and more resilient cities are not just a vision for the future, but are already taking shape today.

Background 

The European Green Capital Award recognises cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants that demonstrate a long-term commitment to sustainability. The European Green Leaf Award celebrates the environmental achievements of smaller cities with between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants.

The award also provides financial support to help realise the proposed ambitions. As the European Green Capital 2028, Zaragoza will receive 600,000 euros, whilst Benidorm and Estarreja will each receive 200,000 euros as winners of the European Green Leaf Award 2028.

Twenty-seven cities from across Europe competed for these 2028 awards. A jury of international experts in urban sustainability assessed the applications across seven environmental areas: air quality, water management, biodiversity, green spaces and sustainable land use, waste and the circular economy, noise pollution, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. Seven cities reached the final stage.

The finalist cities had the opportunity to present their achievements and ambitions to a jury comprising representatives from the European Commission, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency, the Covenant of Mayors and the European Environmental Bureau.

In 2026, Guimarães (Portugal) was named the winner of the European Green Capital Award, whilst the winners of the 2026 European Green Leaf Award were Águeda (Portugal) and Vaasa (Finland).

In 2027, the baton will pass to Heilbronn (Germany) as European Green Capital, and to Assen (Netherlands) and Siena (Italy) as European Green Leaves.

 

More information: European Commission