Vienna – 11 March 2026
The cities of Ankara (Türkiye), Brussels (Belgium) and Denizli (Türkiye) have been shortlisted for the title of European Capital of Democracy 2027. The final decision on the winner will now be taken by a Citizens’ Jury of more than five thousands citizens from all over Europe.
Following a series of intensive visits to candidate cities, the ECoD Experts’ Jury met in February to evaluate the candidate cities’ applications and decide on a shortlist of three cities. The programmes presented by the cities Ankara, Brussels and Denizli convinced the Experts’ Jury in their multifaceted approach toward democracy, with innovative approaches to citizen participation, local governance and democratic innovation.
Bruno Kaufmann, Chairperson of the Experts’ Jury, highlighted: “The three cities offer a fascinating insight into the surprisingly big space of local democracy. Being overshadowed by transnational and national governments, these major urban centers offer both innovative solutions and encouraging initiatives when it comes to making people’s power tangible.”
Cities are where democracy becomes tangible in everyday life.
Democracy is not only shaped in parliaments and national institutions. It is also shaped in neighbourhoods, public spaces and city halls. The European Capital of Democracy initiative focuses on this local dimension by recognising cities that create meaningful opportunities for participation and democratic innovation.
Across Europe, cities are developing new ways to involve residents in shaping public life. They create spaces for participation, test new democratic practices and build connections between institutions and communities.
“While we see in many countries a populist backlash on the national level, cities remain strongholds of the principle of a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” emphasised Helfried Carl, Founder & CEO of the European Capital of Democracy NPO.
The European Capital of Democracy recognises cities as key arenas of democratic life. By focusing on local governance, citizen participation and urban innovation, the initiative highlights how democracy can be strengthened through practical, inclusive and participatory processes at city level.
The shortlisted cities for the European Capital of Democracy 2027 reflect this local democratic ambition in different ways. They come from different contexts, with different histories, structures and challenges. What connects them is their commitment to strengthening democracy through local participation, inclusive urban governance and democratic innovation.
Next step in the selection process
Following the decision of the Experts’ Jury, the selection process now enters its final stage. The European Capital of Democracy 2027 will be chosen by the Citizens’ Jury – comprising more than 4,500 citizens from across Europe.
Registration is open until 16 March 2026 for citizens from all Council of Europe member states and Kosovo to join the Citizens’ Jury.
Previous European Capitals
Barcelona was chosen as the inaugural Capital of Democracy 2023/24. Vienna carried the title in 2024/25 and handed over the baton to the Municipality of Cascais. As the European Capital of Democracy 2026, Cascais will host a series of activities to celebrate democracy and showcase best practices – and create the space to announce the European Capital of Democracy 2027.
Impact of the initiative
The title-holding city works closely with civil society and its citizens to organise a range of engaging activities and events, attracting visitors from across Europe, and fostering collaboration to advance democracy, education, and innovation. The title also bolsters the city’s international reputation as a hub for democratic excellence, promoting civic pride and enhancing its status as a leader in progress. Additionally, the city takes on a leading role in the European City Network and hosts meetings, where representatives from member cities convene to exchange knowledge and best practices in municipal democracy promotion.
About European Capital of Democracy
European Capital of Democracy is an initiative by ECoD gemeinnützige GmbH, a non-profit organisation founded in 2021 by The Innovation in Politics Institute in Vienna, Austria. ECoD NPO’s mission is to promote democratic governance and to strengthen social cohesion by fostering and expanding participation and awareness across the Council of Europe member states.
For more information, visit https://capitalofdemocracy.eu.
Media Contact:
Fatima Kirsch
Communication Manager
fk@capitalofdemocracy.eu
+43 660 79 55 921