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As sustainable travel becomes increasingly important, it’s worth paying attention to the cities going the extra mile to become greener. Take Copenhagen: the Danish capital has been running a scheme since 2024 that rewards tourists for litter-picking and travelling sustainably, with other European cities following suit.
To recognise and reward the continent’s green champions, the European Union’s Green Capital award aims to spotlight places taking tangible steps to manage environmental problems and improve local livelihoods.
So, where has been named as Europe’s next Green Capital? That would be Zaragoza, Spain’s fourth-largest city, which is nestled in the northeastern region of Aragon.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Guimarães in Portugal, the Green Capital for 2026. Zaragoza was awarded €600,000 to bolster its sustainability efforts.
How is Europe’s Green Capital decided?
The Green Capital prize is awarded two years in advance, meaning Zaragoza holds the title for 2028. The 2027 winner was Heilbronn in Germany, recognised for its efforts in tackling air quality and noise pollution.
According to euronews, the Green Capital prize is open to cities with 100,000 residents or more, while smaller hubs (with between 20,000-100,000 residents) are instead contenders for the Green Leaf title. This year, the Green Leaf prize was handed to Benidorm and Chiclana de la Frontera, with Benidorm recognised ‘for managing mass tourism pressure while protecting the environment’. Both destinations were given €200,000.
In contention for the Green Capital award were Aalborg in Denmark, Bielsko-Biała in Poland, Košice in Slovakia, and Porto in Portugal.
An independent expert judging panel assessed the applications on air and water quality, protections in place for green spaces, noise and waste management, preparations for extreme heat and flooding, and steps towards cutting emissions.
Zaragoza won thanks to its ‘strong governance and long-term commitment, helping the city respond successfully to growing climate challenges’, according to the EU Tourism platform. Its urban biodiversity, sustainable land use and green areas were also praised, and the city has even implemented a Green Infrastructure Master Plan.
More on sustainable travel with Time Out
Read our guide to the destinations that need more tourism, and check out which cities were named the most cycle-friendly and walkable according to our survey of locals.
ICYMI: The world’s best cities for public transport in 2026, according to locals.
Plus: It just became a whole lot easier to visit Machu Picchu – here’s why.
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