Access City Award

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About

Since 2010, the European Commission organizes the Access City Award, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum, to reward EU cities that are prioritizing accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Accessibility is a master-key that opens the door to the city’s services, buildings and spaces, so persons with disabilities can take the lead of their lives, live independently and fully participate in the community.

Cities are key actors to ensure accessibility, as they have a direct impact on our everyday life and needs as citizens. A city is accessible when persons with disabilities can, for instance:

  • go around the streets and enjoy public areas, such as parks and playgrounds.
  • get in public buildings like hospitals, town halls, libraries, and sports halls.
  • get the bus, tram and metro to go to work or meet friends.
  • communicate with the local administration in person, by phone or online.
  • get information in ways that they can read and understand.
How to apply

The application period for the Access City Award 2027 will open during the second quarter of 2026.

Access City Award 2026

We are excited to announce that Zaragoza won the Access City Award 2026! 

The awards handed for this year’s edition:

  • 1st prize winner: Zaragoza (Spain)
  • 2nd prize winner: Valencia (Spain)
  • 3rd prize winner: Rennes (France)
  • Special Mention for Accessibility in Housing: Salzburg (Austria)
  • Special Mention for Accessibility in Emergency Preparedness: Valencia (Spain)
  • Special Mention for Information and Communications Technology: Piacenza (Italy)

These cities have shown strong leadership in creating accessible and inclusive urban environments – from public spaces and transport solutions to public facilities and services accessible for persons with disabilities.

Discover how they are leading the way to make Europe accessible, through our newsletter.

The winners were announced on 5 December 2025 at an exciting award ceremony during the European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference organized by the European Commission together with the European Disability Forum.

Over the past 16 years, 77 cities have been awarded, including 16 1st prize winners among them. Vienna (Austria), received the prestigious 1st prize award in last year's edition of the Access City Award.

The Awards

The successful applicants have to demonstrate a coherent approach to accessibility and an ambitious vision in tackling accessibility in the city.

The winner and runners-up will receive a monetary prize:

  • 1st place: EUR 150 000
  • 2nd place: EUR 120 000
  • 3rd place: EUR 80 000

The EU Jury may decide to award other Special Mentions if there are cities that have done exceptional work in a particular key area of accessibility, the current context and the cities’ related accessibility initiatives, or other specific highlights of the applications.

Selection process

The selection process is divided into two phases: a pre-selection at national level, and final selection at European level.

The national juries in each country shortlist a maximum of two cities. Out of the pre-selected candidates, the European Jury selects the winners.

The juries consider accessibility measures taken and planned in the following areas:

  • built environment and public spaces
  • transport and related infrastructure
  • information and communication, including new information and communication technologies
  • public facilities and services
Get inspired by the previous winners

Meet the cities that are leading on accessibility at the EU!

Find the list of previous winners of the Access City Award. 

And get to know why they won by

Spread the word

We need your support. Spread the word on social media with #EUAccessCity and subscribe to our newsletter.

Contact us

For questions related to the Access City Award, please contact us at: JUST-EDPD-ACA@ec.europa.eu.

 

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Research, development, innovation
Urban themes covered

Operational topics
Strategy design
Multi-level governance
Transfer/Replication
Functional urban areas
Urban design
Target audience

The Access City Award is open to

  • all EU cities of over 50 000 inhabitants
  • urban areas composed of two or more towns with a combined population of over 50 000 inhabitants, if they are in EU countries with fewer than 2 cities with over 50 000 inhabitants.

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