EIC reveals six finalists of the 2026 European Capital of Innovation Awards

The EIC announced the six winners of the 2026 European Capital of Innovation (iCapital) awards on 14/10/2025.

The winners are: Aalborg (Denmark), Nicosia (Cyprus), San Sebastian (Spain), Grenoble Alpes Métropole (France), Liverpool (United Kingdom) and Rotterdam (The Netherlands).

The winners of the iCapital prizes, which reward cities that "act as front-runners in leveraging innovation to shape more sustainable, inclusive and resilient urban environments", will be announced at the iCapital Awards ceremony in Turin (Italy) on 04/12/2025, during the Cities Innovate Summit.

There are two categories:

• The European Capital of Innovation winner will earn a €1 M prize, with two runners-up receiving €100,000 each;
• The European Rising Innovative City awardee will secure €500,000, and the two runners-up will each receive €50,000.

In the first category, Grenoble Alpes Métropole is recognised for its strategic approach to innovation with a strong focus on environmental sustainability; Liverpool is noted for urban transformation through cultural regeneration and technological advancement; and…