European Commission names eight finalists for 2028 Green City awards

The European Commission has announced eight finalists for the 2028 European Green Capital and European Green Leaf awards. The winners will be revealed on October 8 in Guimarães, Portugal.

Five cities are competing for the European Green Capital title, which is designated for municipalities with over 100,000 residents. The finalists include Aalborg (Denmark), Bielsko-Biała (Poland), Košice (Slovakia), Porto (Portugal), and Zaragoza (Spain). The award recognizes cities that show measurable progress in environmental issues and quality of life. The winner will receive 600,000 euros to implement ecological plans.

Three cities are in the running for the European Green Leaf award, intended for smaller municipalities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000. These finalists are Benidorm and Chiclana de la Frontera (Spain), and Estarreja (Portugal). Winners in this category can receive 200,000 euros for green projects.

An independent jury evaluated the 27 initial applicants across seven criteria, including air and water quality, biodiversity, waste management, noise reduction, and climate change resilience. While most candidates are celebrated for their progress, the local group La Mesa del Árbol has formally challenged Zaragoza's candidacy, arguing the city does not yet meet the necessary conditions for the title.