Application Process
The European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award (also referred to below as the Award) will recognise three cities in two distinct categories:
- local authorities with less than 50 000 inhabitants;
- local authorities with more than 50 000 inhabitants.
Each category will have a first (sole winner of the title of European Capital of Inclusion and Diversity for a given year), second and third place.
In 2026, a Specific Award for local authorities achieving ‘inclusive labour markets for all’, will also be handed out. There will be three winners in this category (first, second and third place). The size of the local authority is not taken into account for the Specific Award for which there is only one category.
The applications for the Award will be subject to an eligibility check and to pre-assessment by independent experts. The final decision will be made by a European Jury who will establish a final ranking in the two General categories (less than and more than 50 000 inhabitants) and by a European Jury for the Specific Award who will establish a final ranking in the Specific Award category.
Local authorities can apply for both the General competition and the Specific Award.
Who can apply?
The competition is open for all local authorities such as cities, towns or regions in the EU. The applications must be made by an official representative.
Applicants will be asked to describe key initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion.
Initiatives that comprehensively address different grounds of discrimination (sex, age, disability, LGBTIQ identity, religion or belief and racial or ethnic origin) and demonstrate an intersectional approach will be an asset.
For more details see the Rules of the Competition
Online application
The application for 2026 Award will be launched end of October/beginning of November. The application deadline is 30 January 2026 at 12:00 CET.
Join our webinar
Would you like to know more about the Award? Are you interested in applying? Want to learn how to write a good application? Join our information webinars on 20 November and 9 December 2025.
Register for the webinars:
Questions about the Award?
If you have questions:
- Check out the rules and guidelines
- Contact us at eudiversity_award
vo-europe [dot] eu (JUST-CITY-AWARDS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)