‹ Back

 

Benidorm bids for European Green Leaf 2028 after boosting sustainability performance

 

The coastal city of Benidorm has formally submitted its application for the European Green Leaf 2028 award, building on its strong performance as a finalist in the previous competition.

 

The award, organised by the European Commission, recognises cities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants that demonstrate excellence in sustainability, environmental management and quality of life.

 

Mayor Toni Pérez confirmed that the City Council has strengthened its bid following last year’s success, citing improvements across all key sustainability indicators assessed by the competition.

 

“We are approaching this new edition with the same enthusiasm but with an even stronger project than last year,” he said.

 

Stronger environmental credentials

Benidorm’s previous application for the 2027 award saw the city ranked highly for air quality and its climate change mitigation strategy, placing it among the top four finalists alongside Assen, Saint-Quentin and Siena.

 

The 2027 title was ultimately awarded to Assen, but Benidorm’s performance has encouraged local officials to further refine and expand their environmental strategy.

 

According to the mayor, the latest bid reflects enhanced collaboration across municipal departments and the local tourism body, Visit Benidorm, showcasing a model that integrates sustainability with the demands of a major tourist destination.

 

Balancing tourism and sustainability

Benidorm has positioned itself as a case study in managing high visitor numbers while maintaining environmental standards.

 

“We are proof that it is possible to combine high tourist density with respectful territorial planning, advanced resource management and continuous improvement of quality of life,” Pérez said.

 

The city’s application highlights its approach to efficient resource use, sustainable urban planning and increasing engagement from both residents and visitors.

 

What happens next?

The European Commission is expected to announce the shortlist of finalist cities in early July 2026.

 

Final presentations will then take place in Guimarães, the current European Green Capital 2026, with winners likely to be announced in October.

 

Cities will be evaluated across seven environmental categories, including air quality, water management, biodiversity, waste and circular economy, noise pollution, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

The European Green Leaf award remains a key benchmark for smaller cities aiming to demonstrate leadership in sustainability across Europe.