On 5 May 2026, the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), in partnership with the European Commission, launched the 12th edition of the European Capital of Innovation Awards (iCapital) in Aalborg, the 2026 European Rising Innovative City.
The iCapital Awards celebrate cities that champion innovation at every level, engaging public and private stakeholders, supporting entrepreneurship, and implementing forward-looking policies that inspire others across Europe. The competition is open to cities from EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe.
The competition features two categories:
- European Capital of Innovation – Open to cities with more than 250 000 inhabitants. The winning city will receive €1 million, while two runner-up cities will each be awarded €100,000.
- Rising Innovative City – Open to cities with a population between 50,000 and 249,999 inhabitants. The winner will receive €500,000, with two runner-up cities each receiving €50,000.
Cities are invited to submit their applications by 4 August 2026 at 17:00 (CEST).
For more information: