Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon in northeastern Spain, has been named European Green Capital for 2028, beating finalists including Porto, Aalborg, Bielsko-Biała and Košice. The European Commission announced the winner on 8 October 2026 at a ceremony in Guimarães, Portugal, the current title-holder.
The award recognises cities of over 100,000 people making real progress on sustainability, judged across seven categories ranging from air and water quality to biodiversity, waste management, noise and climate action. Zaragoza won points for strong governance and a long-term environmental strategy, including a Green Infrastructure Master Plan that links green spaces across the city. It also comes with €600,000 in funding to bankroll further initiatives.
The timing matters. Spain endured one of its toughest summers on record this year, with wildfires and severe drought hitting regions like Catalunya, so a Spanish city taking Europe's top green honour feels well earned.
For travellers, the award is a nudge to look past Madrid and Barcelona. Zaragoza sits on the Ebro River roughly halfway between the two, making it an easy high-speed rail stop. Its headline sight is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, one of Spain's most famous churches, and the historic centre pairs well with a riverside stroll and a seriously good food scene. It remains refreshingly under-visited compared with Spain's big-name cities.
There were other winners too. Benidorm — yes, that Benidorm — and Estarreja in Portugal shared the European Green Leaf 2028 title for smaller cities, each receiving €200,000. Benidorm was praised for handling mass tourism while protecting its environment, and Estarreja for reinventing itself from an industrial town. Heilbronn in Germany holds the Green Capital title in 2027 before Zaragoza's year in the sun.
Who should care? Anyone planning a Spain trip who wants culture, tapas and history without the queues — or who likes the idea of their tourism euros supporting a city investing in its green future. Put it on the list for 2028, or beat the award crowds and go sooner.
