The European Commission awards cities from five member states for inclusion and diversity policies

The European Commission announced on Tuesday the winners of the 2026 edition of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award, rewarding local authorities from Belgium, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain for policies on equality, combating discrimination, and inclusion in the labor market.

In Brief

The Commission announced the winners of the fifth edition of the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award ahead of the launch of European Diversity Month 2026. In the category of local authorities with over 50,000 inhabitants, gold goes to Józsefváros in Budapest, silver to Leuven, and bronze to Leiden. In the category of local authorities with under 50,000 inhabitants, gold goes to Errenteria, silver to Orio, and bronze to San Xoán de Río, all from Spain. The special award for inclusive labor markets was given to the city of Errenteria, followed by Orio and the Metropolitan City of Milan. The public award was won by Marsicovetere, Italy.

The Commission presented the award as a key action of the Union of Equality and stated that it rewards cities, towns, and regions that provide examples of inclusive policies and promote diversity. According to the European executive, this year's edition rewarded local authorities that have acted in areas such as gender equality, racial and ethnic origin, religion and beliefs, disability, age, and LGBTIQ+ identities.

In the category of local authorities with over 50,000 inhabitants, the gold award was given to Józsefváros, district 8 of Budapest. The Commission justified the distinction by the locality's commitment to inclusion, including through initiatives for inclusive employment in municipal administration, LGBTIQ+ equality, integration of Roma communities, and measures against gender-based violence.

The silver award in the same category went to the city of Leuven, Belgium, for its approach to combating exclusion. The Commission highlighted projects such as "Leuven without Racism" and the local ten-point plan to combat discrimination in areas such as housing, labor market participation, and education.

The bronze award was given to the city of Leiden, in the Netherlands, for the measures adopted under the "Leiden Inclusive" policy, described by the Commission as an approach aimed at ensuring that everyone feels free to be themselves, regardless of origin, belief, gender, age, sexual orientation, or disability.

In the category of local authorities with under 50,000 inhabitants, the gold award was attributed to the city of Errenteria, in Spain. The Commission cited the locality's strong commitment to cultural diversity and its initiatives dedicated to migrants, the LGBTIQ+ community, women, people with disabilities, and the elderly.

The silver award went to the locality of Orio, also from Spain, for its inclusion and diversity strategy, "Bizitza Askeak Plazer," translated by the Commission as "Living Free is a Pleasure," which supports migrants, women, LGBTIQ+ individuals, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The bronze award went to the village of San Xoán de Río, also from Spain, for its initiatives aimed at eliminating discrimination against the elderly, women, and members of the LGBTIQ+ community.

The Commission also awarded a special prize for building inclusive labor markets for all. The gold award went to the city of Errenteria, for its vision that access to employment is essential for social inclusion and for its commitment to a local labor market that reflects diversity. The silver award went to Orio, for its initiatives dedicated to individuals who may face exclusion in the local labor market, with a specific focus on migrant women in the care economy. The bronze award was given to the Metropolitan City of Milan, in Italy, for its efforts to build a fairer, sustainable, and inclusive employment ecosystem, including through the "Claudia!" project, which helps organizations and companies adopt inclusion and gender equality policies.

The public award, for which the audience voted a week before the ceremony, was won by Marsicovetere, Italy.

In statements accompanying the announcement, Executive Vice-President Roxana Mănezatu said that "inclusive labor markets and workplaces in Europe benefit not only our citizens and businesses but our entire society and economy. It is a matter of equality and fairness, which guides our efforts daily, but also a contribution to prosperity and well-being. The European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award 2026 is an opportunity to reward cities and localities that pave the way for transforming the Union of Equality into reality and to inspire others to follow their example."

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib stated that "the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award 2026 highlights the remarkable efforts of cities and localities that pave the way in building inclusive and diverse communities. At the same time, companies play a crucial role in transforming the Union of Equality into reality by promoting inclusive workplaces where everyone can succeed and feel free to be themselves. During European Diversity Month, I encourage everyone to join the initiative and contribute to positive changes throughout our society."

The Commission specifies that the Tuesday ceremony also marks the launch of the 2026 edition of European Diversity Month. This year's theme is promoting and strengthening inclusive labor markets and workplaces, so that equal treatment becomes a reality for all.

The award was launched as part of the EU Action Plan against Racism 2020-2025 and the LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2020-2025 and annually rewards the work of local authorities in the Union in promoting inclusion and building discrimination-free societies.

The Commission states that it has renewed its commitment to the ethos of this award in the LGBTIQ+ Equality Strategy 2026-2030, the Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030, and the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030. Applications for the fifth edition were open from November 2025 until early February 2026, and the applications were evaluated by a jury of experts based on the nature and scope of the initiatives, the level of commitment, sustainability, and the involvement of individuals exposed to discrimination in the policy-making process.