The European Commission launched the call for applications for the 2028 European Green Capital (EGC) and European Green Leaf (EGL) Awards. These prestigious titles recognise and reward European cities that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability, environmental innovation and improving the quality of life for their residents.
Cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants are eligible to apply for the European Green Capital Award, for which one winning city will be selected. Smaller towns and cities with a population over 20 000 inhabitants can apply for the European Green Leaf Award, which recognises up to two winners each year.
These awards offer cities of different sizes the opportunity to showcase their achievements and ambition in creating greener, healthier and more sustainable urban environments.
The winners will receive a financial prize — EUR 600 000 for the Green Capital and EUR 200 000 for each of up to two Green Leaf winners — to support the implementation of high-impact environmental initiatives during their title year.
How to apply
Interested cities must register via the EU Survey platform to receive the application form and supporting documents. Upon submitting their application, all cities will receive tailored feedback from independent experts. Applications must be submitted by 1 April 2026.
Find more details and apply now!
Awards & Competition
This call for entries for the European Green Capital and European Green Leaf Awards is open to the following applicants:
- Applicant cities from Member States as well as from third countries that are associated to the LIFE programme at the time of closure of the present call.
- Cities from EEA countries can also participate in the call and win the awards, but the prize money will only be given to countries that are associated to the LIFE programme at the time of closure of the present call.
- For the European Green Capital: applicant cities from the countries listed above which have more than 100 000 inhabitants.
- For the European Green Leaf: applicant cities from the countries listed above from 20 000 and below 10 000 inhabitants.
- For the purposes of this contest, a 'city' is understood to be an (1) urban area, including metropolitan areas (excluding agglomerations that combine more than one otherwise eligible cities), and must encompass an (2) administrative unit governed by a city council or another form of democratically elected body. In case of doubt whether an entity is a city or not, the applicant will be asked to show the status of the city in question in accordance with its national law.
- For population data, Eurostat will be the source of reference. For countries not covered by Eurostat, the European Commission will perform specific checks when assessing the eligibility criteria and might ask any concerned cities to prove they comply with this requirement.
- In any given year, cities can apply for either the European Green Capital Award or European Green Leaf Awards, but not for both at the same time.
- Past winners of the European Green Capital Award or European Green Leaf Awards titles may not re-apply.
EU Green Capital