European Youth Capital
The European Youth Capital is a title awarded by the European Youth Forum designed to empower young people, boost youth participation and strengthen European identity in our cities.
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Ghent, where the Youth Capital's heart beats 💗
The 2024 European Youth Capital is all about young people taking over! Throughout the year Ghent is making sure that young people have a say in their present and future. How? Young people are making the Youth Capital programme themselves - through open calls, a big chunk of the programme is designed by the young people of the city. Even the board of directors consists of young people (20 out of 24). Their role? To decide which direction the project will take and how the budgets will be distributed.
Can't visit Ghent? Head to their website to discover how the whole year is dedicated to young people!
More than a title!
Each year, a new European city is given the chance to showcase its innovative ideas, projects and activities that aim to raise up young voices and bring a new youth perspective to all aspects of city life.
Many more, by simply applying to the title, experience innovative youth-focus initiatives taking place.
From public transport and infrastructure, to cultural and educational programmes and democratic policy-making, the European Youth Capital title invites cities across the continent to rethink how they engage with and include young people.
Empowering young citizens
It is crucial that young people have equal opportunity to shape the social, economic, political and cultural life of their local community.
The European Youth Capital initiative aims to support both young people and decision-makers to open up these possibilities and lead the way for other European municipalities to follow.
Inspiring a legacy
In over a decade of the existence of the European Youth Capital title, the Capitals have managed to become real champions for young people, fostering their engagement in decision-making processes and building their European identity.
From the first European Youth Capital to this day, cities have been shown to establish strong relationships between young people, youth organisations, municipalities and local businesses to transform their communities.
Previous European Youth Capitals
- 2009 - Rotterdam (NL)
- 2010 - Turin (IT)
- 2011 - Antwerp (BE)
- 2012 - Braga (PT)
- 2013 - Maribor (SL)
- 2014 - Thessaloniki (GR)
- 2015 - Cluj-Napoca (RO)
- 2016 - Ganja (AZ)
- 2017 - Varna (BG)
- 2018 - Cascais (PT)
- 2019 - Novi Sad (RS)
- 2020 - Amiens (FR)
- 2021 - Klaipeda (LT)
- 2022 - Tirana (AL)
- 2023 - Lublin (PL)
- 2024 - Ghent (BE)
- 2025 - Lviv (UA)
- 2026 - Tromsø (NO)
Exciting news! 🔥
Tromsø (Norway) is the European Youth Capital 2026!
Not only is Tromsø the “youngest city” in Norway, with almost 50% of its inhabitants under 35 years old, but also a city of 140 nationalities. So get ready for a fresh and diverse 2026 European Youth Capital experience. Get ready to meet the True North ❄️
A BIG congratulations️ to all 2027 European Youth Capital finalists 🔥
- Chișinău, Moldova 🇲🇩
- Fuenlabrada, Spain 🇪🇸
- Málaga, Spain 🇪🇸
- Parma, Italy 🇮🇹
- Skopje, North Macedonia 🇲🇰
All of these finalist cities have demonstrated amazing commitment to investing in young people and opening up opportunities for active involvement in city life. Well done!
Thank you to all the 11 European cities that applied - keep striving for youth inclusive cities!
want to get inspired?
Thinking about becoming the next European Youth Capital? Dive into the inspiring journeys of the 2023 and 2024 winners! Check out their final applications below and get ready to submit your own.
The first round of applications is usually open from December to February, followed by the announcement of shortlisted candidate cities in March. From there, gear up for the second round in June, and the third and final round in October. The winner is normally announced in November! Don't miss your chance to shine 👇