Zadar shortlisted for European Capital of Tourism 2027

Zadar has been shortlisted for the title of European Capital of Tourism 2027. It is the only Croatian city to reach the final stage of the competition, which was recently restructured by the European Commission to merge the 'European Capital of Smart Tourism' and 'European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism' initiatives into a single title.

In the category for cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000, Zadar is one of eight finalists selected from an initial pool of 40 applicants across 17 countries. Other finalists in this category include Calais (France), Calvià and Ibiza (Spain), Geestland (Germany), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Sandanski (Bulgaria), and Selçuk (Turkey).

The evaluation process focused on sustainability, accessibility, digitalization, cultural heritage, creativity, and local talent, rather than traditional metrics like visitor numbers or overnight stays. Candidates will present their proposals to a European jury in Brussels on November 18 and 19, 2026.