# Zaragoza and Benidorm named 2028 European Green awardees > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-green-capital-and-green-leaf-awards-finalists > Updated: 2026-10-09T15:49:59.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 4. The European Commission has named Zaragoza, Spain, the European Green Capital for 2028. Announced during a ceremony in Guimarães, Portugal, this victory follows the city’s previous attempts in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Zaragoza’s successful bid centered on its long-term commitment to sustainability and climate adaptation, utilizing a roadmap of 150 actions to position the city as an “oasis in the desert” regarding extreme temperature management. As the winner of the top prize for cities with over 100,000 inhabitants, Zaragoza will receive €600,000 in funding from the European Commission. The selection was based on seven environmental indicators, including air and water quality, waste management, circular economy, and noise levels, through a collaborative effort between local government, the Government of Aragon, the private sector, universities, and civil society. In the Green Leaf category, designated for municipalities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000, Benidorm, Spain, was awarded the 2028 European Green Leaf. Sharing the distinction with Estarreja, Portugal, Benidorm will receive €200,000. The jury recognized Benidorm for its ability to manage the environmental pressures of mass tourism, specifically highlighting its efficient water management, emission reductions, and the use of green infrastructure to mitigate urban heat. ## Claims - The European Union awards the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards to cities making measurable environmental progress. (corroborated by 3 sources) - An independent panel of experts reduced the number of candidates from 27 to eight in June. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The winners will be announced on October 8 in Guimarães, Portugal. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Zaragoza is a finalist for the European Green Capital title. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Benidorm and Chiclana de la Frontera are finalists for the Green Leaf Awards. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The main Green Capital award is for cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Green Leaf title is for cities with populations between 20,000 and 100,000. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Evaluation criteria include air and water quality, biodiversity, waste management, and emission reductions. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-09: Zaragoza and Benidorm win 2028 European green city awards Zaragoza has been named the 2028 European Green Capital, while Benidorm and Estarreja have won the European Green Leaf Award for their sustainability and climate adaptation efforts. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/benidorm-and-zaragoza-win-european-green-city-awards ### 2026-10-07: Zaragoza named European Green Capital 2028 Zaragoza has won the European Green Capital 2028 award, and Benidorm has received the European Green Leaf Award, following evaluations by the European Commission in Guimarães, Portugal. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/zaragoza-named-european-green-capital-2028 ### 2026-10-06: European Green Capital finalists include three Spanish cities The European Union will announce the European Green Capital and Green Leaf Award winners on October 8 in Portugal, featuring finalists from Spain, Denmark, Poland, Slovakia, and Portugal. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-green-capital-finalists-include-three-spanish-cities ### 2026-10-04: European Commission names eight finalists for 2028 Green City awards Eight European cities have been named finalists for the 2028 European Green Capital and Green Leaf awards, with winners to be announced on October 8 in Portugal. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-commission-names-eight-finalists-for-green-capital-awards --- Cite as: Zaragoza and Benidorm named 2028 European Green awardees. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-green-capital-and-green-leaf-awards-finalists