Guimarães re-enters the race for the title of European Green Capital

Guimarães is stepping up its efforts and commitment to retain the title in 2026, after last year being one of the three finalists for 2025

The city of Guimarães has applied to become European Green Capital 2026. The municipality is thus reinforcing its endeavour and commitment to achieving the goal, through its ongoing commitment to the sustainable development of the territory. Last year, Guimarães was one of the three finalists to represent the city in 2025, but the title was eventually awarded to Vilnius, Lithuania. The shortlist of finalist cities for the 2026 cycle will be announced next July and the winner will be announced in October this year.

“In recent years, Guimarães has done an excellent job in terms of the environment and is currently a world reference in this area,” emphasises Domingos Bragança, Mayor of Guimarães. He continues: “In addition to the success of the various projects we have underway for the sustainable transformation of the territory and to achieve climate neutrality, we should also highlight the awareness-raising process, with the aim of uniting the entire population and putting citizens at the centre of this path towards an environmentally sustainable future. Now, more than ever, we are together, heading towards Guimarães European Green Capital in 2026!”.

The city of Guimarães is committed to sustainability and environmental action through its integrative, participatory and multidisciplinary governance ecosystem, known as Guimarães 2030. This model, coordinated by the municipality in conjunction with the Landscape Laboratory, involves universities, companies, non-profit associations, the government, political decision-makers and citizens. The aim is to make the territory climate neutral by 2030, with a focus on research, education and environmental awareness.

About the European Green Capital
The European Green Capital, initiated in 2010 by the European Commission, promotes sustainable cities by annually recognising a city that is a leader in environmental standards and ambitious targets for urban sustainability and the fight against climate change. These cities serve as inspiring models for others, leading social change and implementing the European Green Deal. Eligibility is aimed at cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in the EU Member States, EU candidate countries and some associated countries.