Kraków among the winners of the 2025 European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award.

This is the fourth edition of the competition, which promotes cities and municipalities across the European Union that actively work toward building societies free from discrimination—regardless of gender, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation.

“This is a tremendous achievement, and the title we have just received is the result of a consistent policy and bold actions. This award would not have been possible without the commitment of many people, including the staff of the City Hall—especially the Department of Social Policy, Equality and Health—along with municipal units, and numerous institutions and NGOs that support us in this daily work,” said Maria Klaman, Deputy Mayor of Kraków.

In the category of local authorities with over 50,000 inhabitants:

• The Gold Award went to the city of Utrecht, the Netherlands for its impressive city-wide commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, embedded across all departments and backed by robust structures, leadership and funding.

• The Silver Award went to the city of Bilbao, Spain for its intersectional and values-driven initiatives on employment, education, transports, security, youth, and sports.

• The Bronze Award went to the city of Kraków, Poland for programmes supporting diverse individuals in public spaces, in health, education, and culture.

This award aligns with the European Union’s efforts to build a Union of Equality, including the implementation of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020–2025 and the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020–2025.

The award ceremony took place on April 29 in Brussels, marking the official launch of the European Diversity Month 2025.

This event aims to promote equality and inclusion in workplaces and communities across Europe.

“Equality, inclusion, and diversity shape our opportunities, access to services, and the identity of our communities. It is in cities and municipalities that citizens’ daily lives take on real meaning,” emphasized Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management.

In the category of municipalities with up to 50,000 inhabitants, awards were presented to the cities of Mariehamn (Finland), Usurbil (Spain), and Settimo Torinese (Italy).
Special recognition from the European Commission was given to Braga (Portugal), Gualdo Tadino (Italy), and Zaragoza (Spain).

As a reminder, the annual European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award is granted within the framework of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan 2020–2025 and the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020–2025. It forms part of the Commission’s broader initiative to build a Union of Equality. The award celebrates the efforts of cities, towns, or regions in the EU that actively promote social inclusion and create communities free from discrimination. These efforts include initiatives supporting diversity and inclusion on the grounds of gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, and LGBTIQ equality.

In April, the European Commission launched two open public consultations to help shape a new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy post-2025 and the first-ever EU Anti-Racism Strategy.
Everyone is welcome to take part! More details are available on the European Commission’s website.