European Capital of Innovation Awards 2026: applications open

On 21 March 2025 the European Commission launched the 2026 European Capital of Innovation Awards, commonly known as iCapital. The prize is managed under the European Innovation Council and implemented by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, EISMEA. It aims to recognise cities that adopt experimentation and people driven policies to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and to promote sustainable growth, social inclusion and improved quality of life.

What the awards cover and why they matter

iCapital positions cities as test beds for innovations that address common urban challenges such as climate adaptation, digitalisation, inclusive growth and social cohesion. The competition emphasises experimental governance, stakeholder mobilisation, and the mainstreaming of tested solutions. Winners receive cash awards and are invited to join an alumni network for peer exchange and visibility across the EU. The Commission frames the prize as a way to make innovation a lever for sustainable growth and social inclusion, but these outcomes depend on local capacity to absorb and scale winning initiatives.

Award categories and financial prizes

Note on population rules: in countries with no city above 250 000 inhabitants the city closest to that threshold may apply to the larger category provided it has at least 50 000 inhabitants and did not apply to the Rising Innovative City category. Past winners and recent laureates gain visibility but are not eligible to receive a repeat award for the same activities.

Who can apply and eligibility

Evaluation criteria and what judges look for

Assessors evaluate entries against six award criteria. These are deliberately qualitative and expect evidence of experimentation, scaling, and ecosystem building. Submissions are expected to show measurable results where possible and a plan to mainstream successful experiments.

These criteria require both narrative and supporting evidence. Applications that focus only on slogans or single projects without proof of mainstreaming, monitoring or governance arrangements are less likely to succeed.

How to apply and the selection process

The application process is structured and uses the EU’s standard grant management tools. Submission requires preparatory steps such as obtaining a Participant Identification Code and an EU Login account. The process includes a Step 1 short proposal, an optional business coaching phase and Step 2 full proposal, followed by interviews for shortlisted cities.

The process may include sharing limited application data, with the applicant's consent, with national or regional public organisations including National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network members and managing authorities of European Structural and Investment Funds to help secure follow-on support and replication finance such as the Seal of Excellence route.

Key dates and practical deadlines

Applicants should verify exact timings and time zones on the iCapital webpage. The Commission publishes the rules of contest and guidance documents, and it ran an information webinar on 24 April 2025 whose recording and slides are made available for applicants.

Benefits and limits of winning the prize

Benefits listed by the Commission include EU wide recognition, direct financial support to enhance local innovation strategies, and membership of the iCapital Alumni Network. The alumni network also produces practical factsheets on topics such as defining and mapping innovation ecosystems, stakeholder engagement and governance.

A note of realism: while prize money can fund targeted projects, the amounts are small relative to typical city budgets and long term impact depends on sustained local investment and governance. Visibility from the award can unlock further opportunities but it is not a substitute for institutional capacity to implement and maintain innovations.

Past winners and recent updates

The prize has been awarded since 2014. Notable winners include Barcelona 2014, Amsterdam 2016, Paris 2017, Athens 2018, Nantes 2019, Leuven 2020, Dortmund 2021, Aix-Marseille Provence 2022, Lisbon 2023 and Turin 2024-25 as European Capitals of Innovation. Recent Rising Innovative City winners include Vantaa 2021, Haarlem 2022, Linkoping 2023 and Braga 2024-25.

At a launch event in Braga in March 2025 Jean-David Malo, Director of EISMEA, presented the call. Later, the 2026 winners were announced on 4 December 2025 as Grenoble Alpes Métropole and Aalborg. Applicants should review recent winning dossiers to understand successful messaging and evidence.

Practical advice for applicants

Make sure to check IT requirements. Applications require an EU Login and a Participant Identification Code. Videos and pitch decks are mandatory at Step 1 so allocate time and resources to produce clear, concise supporting materials.

Transparency, data and the selection process

The EIC and EISMEA follow Commission rules on transparency and data protection. Evaluators, jury members and coaches are selected from the Horizon Europe experts database and are subject to non discrimination and confidentiality obligations. Personal data collected during interviews and administrative checks will be processed under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 and retained according to the durations set in EISMEA data protection notices.

Where to find more information and next steps

If you plan to apply, register early for EU Login and PIC, review the Rules of contest carefully, watch the info session recording and prepare documented proof of impact. Treat the prize as a catalyst and not a turnkey solution. The award can bring visibility and resources but local follow through and governance will determine whether innovation experiments become durable public services.