The European Green Leaf Award targets EU towns and cities with populations of 20,000-99,999 residents. The European Green Capital is awarded to cities with over 100.000 inhabitants. To compete for the prize, they need to follow The Rules of Contest, and the cities need to stand out in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The award is the result of a thorough selection process in which candidate cities must provide evidence of both the initiatives they have already implemented and the plans they have in place to enhance their sustainability further.

Both cities hosted Opening Ceremonies in early January to impressively kick off their title year. Agueda launched its year as European Green Leaf 2026 at the Águeda arts centre. The event brought together local, regional, national and European representatives to celebrate Águeda’s achievements in sustainability and community-led environmental efforts.

Guimarães, the European Green Capital 2026, hosted its own Opening Ceremony. The event brought together EU leaders, ministers, mayors and city residents to reaffirm the key role of cities in Europe’s green transition.

Recognising cities that are working to improve their urban environment and promote healthier, more sustainable living is an important step. While progress brings its own rewards, winning a respected European award can motivate cities to go further and help raise awareness both locally and beyond. These awards also give cities a platform to inspire one another and exchange examples of effective, real-world solutions.

Águeda: Cultural Creativity Meets Sustainability

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Ricardo Resende;

The city of Águeda is located in Northern Portugal, in the Aveiro district. The city offers modern cultural and sports activities, and good accessibility. In 2023, in the category of cities with 20,000 to 75,000 inhabitants, it was honoured with the LivCam Awards as the best municipality in the world to live in. In recent years, Agueda has attracted more tourists thanks to its cultural events, especially Agit’águeda, an urban art and music festival that features thousands of colourful umbrellas hanging throughout the city.

European Green Leaf 2026 is an award which recognises cities that serve as examples in the approach and implementation of sustainable measures and policies.

The jury of the European Green Leaf Award 2026 commended Águeda for its holistic sustainability strategy. Highlighting especially the city’s use of culture as a driving force in its green transition. Guided by the principle of “think global, act local,” Águeda places strong emphasis on community involvement in its sustainability efforts. Residents, businesses and local organisations are encouraged to reflect on how everyday activities affect the environment, helping to build a shared sense of responsibility and collective action toward a greener city.

Guimarães: A Historic City Leading the Way

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Miriam Pereira;

Guimarães occupies a central place in Portugal’s history, as it was here that key events leading to the country’s independence in the 12th century took place. Today, the city has grown into a recognised centre for culture and environmental leadership, blending its historic legacy with a modern commitment to sustainability.

The city was previously honoured with numerous awards, including UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2001 for its well-preserved historic centre, European Capital of Culture in 2012, European City of Sport in 2013, and the title of the most sustainable city in Portugal for three consecutive years.

Launched in 2015, the city’s environmental education programme, PEGADAS, has focused on raising awareness and encouraging residents to adopt more sustainable day-to-day practices.

Alongside this, Guimarães has developed an ecological footprint initiative that guides its long-term goal of becoming a “One-Planet” city. A member of Zero Waste Europe, the city has been a national frontrunner with measures such as the PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw) system and the RRRCICLO project, which promotes circular economy principles through community-based communication and engagement.

The Portuguese city competed for the European Green Capital 2026 title with Heilbronn (Germany) and Klagenfurt (Austria), and has now become the winner, after last year being among the three finalist cities. Guimarães is the second Portuguese city to obtain the title, after Lisbon (2020).

Throughout the European Green Capital 2026 selection process, the evaluation panel — comprising seven independent experts — highlighted Guimarães for its strong performance across seven environmental areas. These included air quality, noise management, water, biodiversity and land use, waste and the circular economy, as well as climate change mitigation and adaptation, recognising the city’s sustained commitment to environmental sustainability.

Learning from Residents

Beyond policies and awards, it’s the people of these cities who drive real change.

If you have ever wondered what it feels like to be an inhabitant of a European Green Capital city, https://environment.ec.europa.eu/ offers interviews with residents of these cities. The engines of change and innovative solutions are people, and their stories are a great inspiration for a green transition.

Águeda and Guimarães offer great examples of how culture, community, and innovative policies can shape a greener, more sustainable future for cities across Europe.