Access City Award

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.

Access City Award 2026

We are excited to announce the finalists for this year’s edition!

• Piacenza
• Rennes
• Salzburg
• Valencia
• Zaragoza

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 will be announced on 4-5 December 2025 at an award ceremony during the European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference organized by the European Commission together with the European Disability Forum.

This year, the European Commission also intends to award a Special Mention for Accessibility in Housing to a city that is addressing the housing crisis while ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Over the past 15 years, 73 cities have been awarded, including 15 1^st prize winners among them. The most recent city to receive the prestigious award was Vienna (Austria).

How to apply

The application period for the Access City Award 2026  was open from 23 June to 9 September 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically via the online application platform: https://access-city-award.ec.europa.eu/

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

For candidate cities to successfully submit their application, please, read the Rules of Contest and the Guidance Note for applicants in conjunction with the Application form.

You will find all the contest documents in the online platform above-mentioned when the application period opens again.

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:

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

Who can apply?

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.

Evaluation and award 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
• exemplary considerations of accessibility in housing (for the Special Mention)

Why an Access City Award?

There are more than 100 million persons with disabilities in the EU. Ensuring access to their fundamental rights and freedoms is a priority, in line with the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, Europe is now essentially an urban society, with seven out of ten EU citizens living in towns and cities.

This award remains a key example of the Commission working hand in hand with other government levels to turn this commitment with citizens with disabilities a reality across the EU.

The Access City Award is an EU initiative that

• recognizes efforts by cities to become accessible for persons with disabilities.
• promotes equal access to urban life for persons with disabilities.
• allows local authorities to promote and share their best practices.

Spread the word

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

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

• Watching their videos as winners
• Reading the annual brochure that compiles all their good practices on accessibility
• Checking the previous award ceremony’s highlights