From a selection of 32 candidates from 12 countries, seven finalists were chosen for the title of ‘European Capital of Smart Tourism’: Braga (Portugal), Bruges and Brussels (Belgium), Genoa (Italy), Leipzig and Regensburg (Germany) and Tampere (Finland). The European Commission has expanded the shortlist for the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition from four to seven destinations, as several applicants submitted high-quality applications and achieved the same high score in the evaluation process.
The application for Leipzig was submitted by the Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. Leipzig scores highly with the accessibility of its cultural institutions and a variety of inclusive features. Public transport is widely accessible: 69.5 percent of tram stops and 56 percent of bus stops are barrier-free. Most vehicles are equipped with tactile markings, visual and acoustic announcements and wheelchair spaces. The jury was also impressed by Leipzig's use of its cultural heritage for forward-looking tourism experiences and the development of the Leipzig Bachfest into one of Europe's most important classical music festivals. This also includes participatory events, family concerts, multilingual digital guides and a concept for green mobility and climate awareness. Another success is the ‘Leipzig loves Regional’ campaign, which combines regional craftsmanship and culinary heritage, making it possible for tourists to experience them.
What is the next stage of the competition?
The finalists will be invited to present their proposals on 18 November 2025 to a European jury, which will select the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2026. The award ceremony will take place on 19 November 2025. The winner will receive extensive support in the areas of communication and branding. This includes the creation of a promotional video and the implementation of tailor-made advertising campaigns to increase visibility on a global level.
The competition is open to cities in the European Union and non-EU countries participating in the Internal Market Programme. An external jury of experts thoroughly assessed the applications. The applicants with the highest overall scores in all categories were shortlisted.
The European Capital of Smart Tourism is an EU initiative that recognises cities for their innovative approaches in areas such as accessibility, digitalisation, sustainability, cultural heritage and creativity.
Since 2018, the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition has provided a platform for showcasing outstanding practices and achievements in the field of tourism. Previous winners of the competition include Turin (2025), Dublin (2024), Seville and Paphos (2023), Valencia and Bordeaux (2022), Malaga and Gothenburg (2020), and Helsinki and Lyon (2019).
The winning cities will be given a platform to showcase their outstanding practices to the world. In particular, the report ‘Leading Examples of Smart Tourism Practices in Europe’ for 2025 highlights the smart tourism initiatives implemented by the applicants. The EU Smart Tourism podcast series also features discussions with representatives from the winning cities, the finalists and the European Commission.
Further Information
• https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/index_en
• https://www.leipzig.travel/en/B2B/sustainable-tourism-development
• https://www.leipzig.travel/en/discover/Leipzig-barrier-free
• https://www.leipzig.travel/en/experience/regional-products-from-Leipzig
• https://www.leipzig.travel/en/discover/culture/industrial-culture-in-Leipzig