The European Commission has selected Tampere as the winner of the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2026 competition from a shortlist of seven finalists. In addition to Tampere, the finalists - listed in alphabetical order - were Braga (Portugal), Bruges (Belgium), Brussels (Belgium), Genoa (Italy), Leipzig (Germany) and Regensburg (Germany). The winner was chosen by a European jury.
According to the European Commission’s press release, Tampere stood out thanks to its innovative practices and plans for sustainable growth by demonstrating how local wellbeing can benefit from tourism. The jury also emphasized how the city is committed to sharing knowledge with others. The release highlights that Tampere has an interesting programme of activities for its year as the European Capital of Smart Tourism in 2026.
Tampere’s solutions were presented to the jury in Brussels by Teppo Rantanen, Executive Director of Economic Policy, Competitiveness and Innovation for the City of Tampere, and Heli Jokela, Director of Marketing and Communications at Visit Tampere.
- Tampere has a strong foundation in sustainable development, smart city solutions that support both residents and visitors, and a vibrant cultural scene. We work extensively with European partners, and co-creation of innovations is part of our way of working. This award is a wonderful recognition of our efforts and a great opportunity for future collaborations, Rantanen says.
Tampere’s application emphasized, among other things, the city’s climate work, such as sustainability tools designed for businesses, and Tampere’s recent rise from 23rd to 6th place in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. The application also highlighted nature destinations accessible via the Outdoor Express service, the Tampere.Finland mobile app, and smart city solutions that blend physical and digital environments. Signature elements of Tampere featured in the application included the Moomins and the city’s status as the Sauna Capital of the World.
As the winning city, Tampere will receive significant communication and branding support. This includes the production of a marketing video, a hashtag sculpture to be placed in the city, and tailored marketing campaigns to increase visibility at the EU level and internationally.
- Being named the European Capital of Smart Tourism allows us to increase Tampere’s recognition among both existing and new target groups. It also brings credibility and new contacts for Europe-wide projects and networks in which we are already active. We certainly do not yet see all the opportunities ahead, but we are excited to develop our work even further during this themed year, says Heli Jokela, Director of Marketing and Communications at Visit Tampere.
The award also aims to strengthen networking and the sharing of best practices among smart tourism destinations, thereby promoting innovation in European tourism.
Previous winners of the competition include Dublin (2024), Seville and Pafos (2023), Valencia and Bordeaux (2022), Málaga and Gothenburg (2020), and Helsinki and Lyon (2019).
