Tucked away in the heart of central Portugal, Águeda is a lively riverside town best known for its colourful umbrellas and forward-thinking community spirit. With a population of just over 47,000, it sits within the Aveiro district.
While Águeda’s creative street art and riverside walks have long drawn a crowd, the town’s growing reputation for sustainable innovation really sets it apart these days. It’s this commitment to green living that’s recently put Águeda in the spotlight, having received the European Green Leaf Award for 2026.
What is the European Green Leaf Award?
The European Green Leaf Award shines a light on those towns and smaller cities across Europe making genuine headway on sustainability. Set up by the European Commission in 2015 and taking inspiration from the well-known European Green Capital Award, this prize is all about recognising up-and-coming places ready to set the pace on climate action.
While the Green Capital Award is reserved for Europe’s bigger cities, the Green Leaf Award looks specifically at places with between 20,000 and 100,000 residents that are going above and beyond to tackle pollution, promote biodiversity, and create a greener, more liveable environment for everyone. Judges weigh up everything from clean transport initiatives and bold recycling schemes, to how actively communities get involved in sustainable projects on their own doorstep.
Águeda's sustainability achievements and innovations
Águeda winning the European Green Leaf Award reflects how sustainability is woven into everyday life across the town. Local leaders and residents have found creative, practical ways to ramp up environmental action, blending smart city ideas with a strong sense of community responsibility.
- Over 60% of Águeda’s territory is forested, and around 11% is protected under European nature programmes.
- The town set up the Águeda Living Lab, where locals, businesses and officials team up to pilot sustainable solutions and adapt to climate challenges.
- Águeda is an early signatory to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and it closely tracks progress towards the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals every year.
- Ambitious urban greening projects have expanded local parks, boosted river biodiversity, and increased public access to green spaces.
- More than 150 local companies have voluntarily signed up for a green certification scheme, encouraging sustainable business practices and innovation.
- Águeda’s sustainability efforts have earned it international recognition, such as being named among the world’s top 100 sustainable destinations and winning awards for local liveability and green city living.
What winning the 2026 European Green Leaf means for Águeda
Being named a European Green Leaf winner isn’t just about earning another plaque for the town hall wall—it has real, on-the-ground impacts for everyday life in Águeda.
Winning the award, and the €200,000 that comes with it, has given Águeda a real boost by putting its local economy on the map. It brings in fresh investment and creates new jobs linked to eco-friendly tourism and sustainable business.
Exploring Águeda: things to do
It gives public recognition to Águeda and encourages ongoing improvement, strengthening the town’s role as a model for sustainable urban living. Importantly, it also fosters knowledge sharing and best-practice exchange between cities.
Walk the Umbrella Sky Project: stroll beneath Águeda’s iconic floating umbrellas, which brighten up the city centre every summer and have become a symbol of the town’s creative streak.
Explore the street art and murals: Águeda’s open-air gallery features playful public artworks and quirky installations scattered across side streets and squares.
Cycle or walk along the Ecopista do Vouga: this converted former railway line gives you peaceful river views, easy woodland cycling, and a look at the area’s rural scenery.
Visit the municipal museum: housed in a beautiful old building, this museum explores Águeda’s history, industry, and cultural heritage.
Sample riverfront cafés and restaurants: dine or sit with a coffee by the river. Águeda is known for its friendly pace and local specialities like leitão (roast suckling pig).
Join in the AgitÁgueda Festival (if you’re here in July): the streets come alive with music, art, parades, and the famous umbrella canopies.
Wander through the parks and gardens: as a European Green Leaf town, Águeda boasts plenty of green spaces to explore.
European Green Capital Award: another win for Portugal in 2026
The European Green Capital Award recognises larger cities across Europe that have shown real leadership in tackling environmental challenges and improving the quality of life for their residents. Guimarães, also in Portugal, proudly clinched the title for 2026.
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