Description
On 5 March, the European Commission launched the 2026 European Capital of Smart Tourism and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism competitions. The Commission launched the call for tourist destinations across Europe to submit their innovative smart and sustainable tourism practices to become examples of European tourism to follow.
The European Smart Tourism Green Pioneer is an EU competition, implemented by the European Commission, that will raise the profile of Europe as a sustainable tourism destination and establish a network to share best practices among European destinations.
Its aim is to recognise and reward smaller destinations that have implemented successful strategies to promote sustainable tourism through green transition practices.
The destination that shows the most successful strategies or measures to promote sustainable tourism through green transition practices and convinces the European jury with an exciting programme for the year it holds the title, will receive the title 'European Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism 2026'.
The title of European Smart Tourism Capital goes to European cities that have achieved outstanding tourism results in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitisation, and cultural heritage and creativity.
The competition is open to cities in EU Member States and third countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine) with a population of between 25,000 and 100,000. For smaller states with a total population of less than 1 million, cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants may apply.
Deadline: 30 May 2025
More information on the competitions and awards is available here: https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/about/european-green-pioneer-smart-tourism_en
Source: European Commission Representation in Italy
Image owner: EU