Five cities, one title: The European Youth Capital 2028 finalists
When you think about European cities where young people are shaping their communities, Chișinău, Leeuwarden, Paralimni, Pernik, and Podgorica stand out. These five cities are the finalists for the European Youth Capital (EYC) 2028 title. Since one of them will soon be named European Youth Capital 2028, here’s a closer look at what makes each of them unique 👇
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Chișinău, Moldova
Chișinău has kept young voices at the centre of its candidacy from day one. The city has organised public consultations with young people, youth organisations, student unions, and school councils to define clear objectives for their application as European Youth Capital.
According to Chișinău’s team the title is seen as a platform for exchange, engagement, and building a strong network united by shared values: “This title will open an effective exchange of good practices, offer the opportunity to engage an even greater number of young people, and build a strong network united by shared values and a common mission — to keep peace closer and misinformation further away,” they emphasise.
Leeuwarden, Netherlands
This city is all in for strengthening its community spirit beyond its strict city borders. Leeuwarden has already made sure that its 35 villages came together to give space to the voices of young people in its rural parts.
The team informs us that input has been gathered through surveys, school tours, creative sessions, and workshops – allowing every young person to participate at their own pace. While initiatives like the microbudgeting Project500 and the locally developed quality label Code Young - which aimed to guarantee meaningful youth participation - have put young people truly in the lead.
Leeuwarden’s vision is simple yet powerful: “Just.Be.Young.” They explain, “We want young people to step off their ‘terp’, their safe but isolating mound, and meet on equal ground. By connecting our mounds, we build an inclusive, sustainable city where youth lead lasting change.”
Paralimni, Cyprus
Over 100 participants contributed directly at the Paralimni Youth Forums and expert consultations to define the priorities of this city’s European Youth Capital strategy. As the team says, “Our candidacy puts participatory process at the epicentre, simulating the democratic model it advocates for within its own governance.” The Paralimni Youth Council, the youth organisation behind the city’s candidacy, has built on its longstanding civic and vulture cultures, organising events such as the region’s first-ever volunteer festival to foster community cohesion and this essence of participation.
With its motto “Urban Youth, Urban Cities, Urban Europe,” Paralimni envisions a city where tradition and innovation coexist, and youth participation drives urban transformation.
In their own words: “Framing Paralimni as an urban village” is their goal and they’re way of achieving this is by “reimagining its landscapes, rhythms, and city environment through a youth-centred lens. Offering the EYC year as a platform for participatory process, city development and youth investment, we carved a city strategy that tackles brain drain and reinvests in our young talent to return home.”
Pernik, Bulgaria
From the very beginning, young people have been at the heart of Pernik’s European Youth Capital journey, co-creating the vision and shaping priorities through forums, hackathons, open consultations, and design workshops. Their focus is on Visibility, Opportunities, and Responsibility.
The city has launched initiatives like the Youth Mapping Project, the Train the Youth Trainers Academy, and the Voices of Pernik podcast to ensure young people can actively participate and lead change.
Pernik’s team shares their vision: “Pernik dreams of becoming a city of choice – where young people stay, return, and thrive because they feel seen, heard, and empowered. As European Youth Capital 2028, we will turn our industrial legacy into a platform for creativity, sustainability, and participation – proving that real transformation happens when led by youth. Our vision is a city where young people co-create their future – and help shape Europe’s.”
Podgorica, Montenegro
Podgorica’s EYC journey has been led by young people who bonded around the same vision: reforming the youth policy system bottom-up. Hundreds of young people have been actively involved through consultations, youth dialogues, focus groups, and creative workshops across schools, faculties, and youth clubs. The slogan “Youth Makes the City” reflects this collective vision.
For them, “the candidacy is a chance to test new participatory tools.” That’s why they launched initiatives like the Local Youth Dialogue and Green Youth Budgeting to test innovative ways for young people to lead change.
Podgorica’s team envisions the EYC 2028 year as a pivotal moment: “Our vision is to make Podgorica the place where youth participation, European values and Montenegro’s integration path meet, providing space for youth and proving that young people truly make the city, and the country. For Podgorica, becoming the European Youth Capital in 2028, the year Montenegro hopes to join the EU, means much more than a city title. It is a national moment of unity, showing how young people can lead the country’s European future.”
Stay tuned!
The European Youth Capital 2028 will soon be announced. These five cities have already shown ambitious ideas and strong youth involvement. Now it’s a matter of which city will make it to the next step and lead a year of youth-focused projects!
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