Heilbronn: A Visionary Contender for European Green Capital 2026
In its first-ever attempt at the prestigious European Green Capital Award, Heilbronn, LAND assisted in its preparation, achieved an impressive second place, underscoring its commitment to sustainable urban transformation.
While the top prize went to Guimarães, Portugal, the city’s remarkable journey has cemented Heilbronn’s position as a leader in environmental innovation and community-driven development.
A Collaborative Effort to Shape a Greener Future
LAND was pivotal in Heilbronn’s application, offering strategic guidance and expertise. Drawing on our success in guiding Essen to the title of European Green Capital in 2017, we provided Heilbronn with a comprehensive approach that highlighted its strengths and identified areas of opportunity.
“Our work was focused on positioning Heilbronn as a blueprint for small and medium-sized European cities that want to focus on sustainability and digitalisation in a future-oriented, AI-supported way,” explains Andreas Kipar.
Together with the city of Heilbronn and Fraunhofer IAO, we emphasised Heilbronn’s innovative strategies, such as the IPAI (Innovation Park Artificial Intelligence). It showcased the city’s dedication to urban renewal and environmental stewardship.
To engage the community, we designed a public exhibition in collaboration with the local communication agency gruppe sepia as part of the application process. Open from April 17th to April 21st in the heart of Heilbronn, the exhibition celebrated the city’s fifth anniversary since hosting the federal horticulture show BUGA and provided insights into the European Green Capital competition. The event fostered civic engagement by inviting residents to envision a greener future for their city, further embedding sustainability into the local culture.
The European Union jury commended Heilbronn for its innovative environmental concepts, citizen participation, and achievements in waste reduction, noise and air pollution management, and urban conservation. These aspects reflect Heilbronn’s dedication to creating a liveable, sustainable city. However, the jury also identified areas for improvement, such as expanding green spaces in the city centre and increasing the use of renewable energy. These insights provide Heilbronn with a clear roadmap for further enhancing its environmental performance.
Knowledge Gained, Future Secured
Heilbronn’s journey to the European Green Capital Award has laid the foundation for ongoing progress. The insights and strategies developed during the application process will continue to guide the city’s transformation, ensuring long-term benefits for its residents and the region. We are proud to have supported Heilbronn in crafting a vision combining ecological responsibility with urban innovation. This experience reaffirms that even when you don’t win a title, the path taken leaves a legacy of knowledge and opportunity for the future.
Heilbronn’s commitment to sustainable urban development and the partnerships forged during this journey exemplify how collaboration and forward-thinking strategies can inspire change on a European scale.
Congratulations to the European Green Capital 2026, Guimarães, Portugal and to Klagenfurt, Austria, for the third place.
