European Commission Access City Award 2026 (up to €350,000 in prizes) – YOA

Deadline: September 9, 2025

Applications are open for the European Commission Access City Award 2026. Since 2010, the European Commission organizes the Access City Award, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum, to reward EU cities which are prioritizing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Accessibility is a grasp-key that opens the door to the town’s providers, buildings and areas, so individuals with disabilities can take the lead of their lives, stay independently and totally take part in the group.

Cities are key actors to guarantee accessibility, as they’ve a direct influence on our on a regular basis life and desires as residents. A metropolis is accessible when individuals with disabilities can, as an illustration:

• Get data in ways in which they’ll learn and perceive.
• Go across the streets and luxuriate in public areas, reminiscent of parks and playgrounds.
• Get in public buildings like hospitals, city halls, libraries, and sports activities halls.
• Get the bus, tram and metro to go to work or meet buddies.
• Communicate with the native administration in particular person, by telephone or on-line.

Awards

The profitable candidates have to reveal a coherent method to accessibility and an bold imaginative and prescient in tackling accessibility in the town.

• The winner and runners-up will obtain a financial prize:
  • 1st place: EUR 150,000
  • 2nd place: EUR 120,000
  • third place: EUR 80,000
• This 12 months, the European Commission additionally intends to award a Special Mention for Accessibility in Housing to a metropolis that’s addressing the housing disaster whereas guaranteeing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
• The EU Jury might determine to award different Special Mentions if there are cities which have achieved distinctive work in a selected key space of accessibility, the present context and the cities’ associated accessibility initiatives, or different particular highlights of the purposes.

Eligibility

The Access City Award is open to

• All EU cities of over 50,000 inhabitants.
• Urban areas composed of two or extra cities with a mixed inhabitants of over 50,000 inhabitants, if they’re in EU nations with fewer than 2 cities with over 50,000 inhabitants.

Selection Process

The choice course of is split into two phases: a pre-choice at nationwide degree, and closing choice at European degree. The nationwide juries in every nation shortlist a most of two cities. Out of the pre-chosen candidates, the European Jury selects the winners.

The juries contemplate accessibility measures taken and deliberate in the next areas:

• constructed setting and public areas
• transport and associated infrastructure
• data and communication, together with new data and communication applied sciences
• public amenities and providers
• exemplary concerns of accessibility in housing (for the Special Mention)

Application

The application interval is open till 9 September 2025, 23:59 CEST (GMT+2). Applications have to be submitted electronically through the web application platform.

Click here to apply

For extra data, go to Access City Award.