- Barcelona has been awarded the title of European Capital of Small Retail 2026, becoming the first city to receive this new EU title.
- The initiative was launched by the European Parliament following a citizen-led proposal from local associations and is implemented by the European Commission.
- The European Capital of Small Retail awards celebrate cities that champion small businesses and revitalise urban centres, recognising their role in supporting local economies, fostering social cohesion, and strengthening urban identity.
Barcelona has been chosen as the European Capital of Local Commerce 2026 in the first edition of the European Capital of Small Retail Awards, at a ceremony held on Wednesday, 28 January in Brussels.
These awards recognise three European cities of different sizes and emphasise local commerce as a key element of the local economy, social cohesion and urban identity. With this recognition, Barcelona begins a one-year period during which it will enjoy increased European visibility, opportunities for learning, and exchanges with other cities.
In addition to Barcelona, the Portuguese city of Caldas da Rainha was honoured in the Vibrant Cities category (municipalities of 50,000 to 250,000 inhabitants), and the Italian city of Silandro in the Cutting-Edge Cities category (municipalities of 5,000 to 50,000 inhabitants). Other finalists included, in the Visionary Cities category, Zaragoza and Utrecht; in Vibrant Cities, Braga and Fuenlabrada; and in Cutting-Edge Cities, Markarska and Silla.
A project with European impact
The European Capital of Local Commerce initiative originated with Barcelona Comerç and Vitrines d’Europe, beginning in 2019 and formalised in 2022 with a citizen proposal submitted to the European Parliament through the Petitions Committee. The project aims to place local commerce at the heart of urban and municipal revitalisation policies, recognising its role in the local economy, social cohesion and cultural identity.
The proposal was approved by the Petitions Committee and ratified by the European Parliament plenary in January 2023. Subsequently, the European Commission co-financed and implemented the initiative, opening the way for Barcelona’s candidacy, which was selected yesterday by the European jury. The project is managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) on behalf of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).
Benefits and reach of the award
Winning cities receive recognition and prestige at the European level, ongoing promotional support, invitations to networking events, and the opportunity to participate in exchange programmes for retail best practices. They will also receive assistance with organising online workshops and seminars, producing professional videos, and city branding support to enhance their tourism visibility.