Zaragoza & Benidorm among European Green Cities 2028 winners

The winners of the European Green Cities 2028 awards were announced today (8 Oct) at a festive ceremony in Guimarães, Portugal, the 2026 prizewinner.

Zaragoza (Spain) has been named European Green Capital 2028, while Benidorm (Spain) and Estarreja (Portugal) will share the European Green Leaf 2028 title, which celebrates smaller cities leading the way in environmental action. 

The European Green Capital 2028 jury was impressed by Zaragoza’s strong governance and long-term commitment, helping the city respond successfully to growing climate challenges. Its approach demonstrates how ambitious environmental action can go hand in hand with social resilience and a community-oriented approach.

Benidorm and Estarreja also impressed the jury with their strong commitment to creating greener, healthier and more sustainable places to live.

Benidorm stood out for successfully managing mass tourism pressures while also maintaining environmental protections and sustainable development. Estarreja was recognised as a compelling example of green transformation, successfully moving beyond its industrial legacy through collaborative action.

"Our cities are at the heart of Europe’s environmental transition. They are where we can turn policies into visible change by bringing nature back into our neighbourhoods to cool our streets, reduce air, water and noise pollution, and improve waste management, to create healthier, more sustainable places for people to live and thrive.

The 2028 European Green Capital and Green Leaf winners show that this is already happening in cities across Europe. I warmly congratulate Zaragoza, Benidorm and Estarreja. Their commitment and creativity show what can be achieved when local action, community engagement and ambition come together.

Many cities from Spain and Portugal are true frontrunners in urban sustainability and I hope their experience will inspire many more European cities and accelerate the transition towards greener, more resilient communities."