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AccessibleEU
  • News article
  • 24 June 2025
  • Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  • 1 min read

Applications are now open for the 2026 Access City Awards

Cities with over 50,000 inhabitants can apply by 9 September to be recognised for their efforts to make life more accessible for persons with disabilities. New this year is a Special Mention on Accessibility in Housing. 

Landscape view of Vienna with the text "Access City Award 2026"
European Commission

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

The application period for the Access City Award 2026 is now open, closing on 9 September 2025, 23:59 CEST (GMT+2). The 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.

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.

Apply to the 16th 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

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.

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.

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).

More information.

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