The Balearic Islands are once again setting their sights on Europe. Calvià and Ibiza have been selected by the European Commission as two of the 16 destinations competing to become the 2027 European Capital of Tourism, a new award that brings together the former titles of European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism under a single designation.
Beyond visitor numbers or hotel capacity, the new awards system focuses on how destinations are transforming their approach to tourism. Sustainability, accessibility, digitalization, and the protection of cultural heritage are at the heart of an assessment that also takes into account creativity and local talent.
An independent committee of experts has been tasked with evaluating the applications from across the continent. The quality of the submissions was so high that Brussels decided to increase the number of finalists in each category from four to eight, after several ties during the evaluation process.
Two categories and 16 destinations
The competition distinguishes between large cities and medium-sized towns. In the category of cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants, 43 applications were received from 18 countries. The eight finalists are Aalborg (Denmark), Braga (Portugal), Genoa (Italy), Konya (Turkey), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Lviv (Ukraine), Salzburg (Austria), and Sofia (Bulgaria).
It is in the second category that the Balearic accent stands out. Designed for municipalities with between 25,000 and 100,000 inhabitants, it received 40 applications from 17 countries and recognizes initiatives related to leadership in sustainable tourism.
Alongside Calvià and Ibiza, the list of finalists is completed by Calais (France), Geestland (Germany), Nova Gorica (Slovenia), Sandanski (Bulgaria), Selçuk (Turkey), and Zadar (Croatia). The simultaneous inclusion of two Balearic destinations puts the islands in the spotlight of a competition that, to a large extent, reflects the direction in which Europe wants to move regarding tourism: models capable of combining international appeal, innovation, and sustainability without compromising local identity.
The decision, in November
The final sprint will take place on November 18 and 19 in Brussels. During these two days, the delegations from the 16 shortlisted cities will have to present their projects in person to the European jury. Then comes the decisive moment: the announcement of the two winning cities, which will receive the title of European Capital of Tourism 2027.
The competition is open to both municipalities of European Union member states and towns from non-EU countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP). For Calvià and Ibiza, the race has already begun. And, in this latest edition, a destination’s appeal will not be measured just by its beaches, its hotels, or its ability to attract travelers, but also by something much more strategic: how it conceives and shapes the future of tourism.
