Meet the Access City Award 2025 winners!

The Access City Award recognises European cities that have done outstanding work to ensure accessibility of their urban areas. This year’s winners, Vienna (Austria), Nuremberg (Germany), Cartagena (Spain) and Borås (Sweden), have demonstrated their commitment to creating cities where persons with disabilities can participate fully. Read on to learn more about the initiatives that earned them this year’s awards!

First place: Vienna, Austria 

A city renowned for its high quality of life, Vienna has placed accessibility at the heart of its urban strategy. All metro stations and more than 95% of Vienna’s bus and tram stops are accessible. The city also uses advanced technology, such as real-time sign language avatars and an accessible emergency intercom system, to support persons with disabilities through video, audio or text. The city ensures that accessibility is included in every part of its planning, from updating old buildings to designing new ones. The city actively involves persons with disabilities in decision-making by working with the Vienna Social Fund and disability organisations. Through its Inclusive Vienna 2030 strategy, Vienna is making long-term plans to improve accessibility across public transport, municipal buildings, information services and leisure areas. For its comprehensive and successful approach to accessibility, Vienna wins first prize in the Access City Award 2025. 

Second place: Nuremberg, Germany 

Nuremberg is breaking down both physical and social barriers.  Nuremberg’s public transport is highly accessible, with lifts and guidance systems at all underground stations, nearly 85% of tram stops accessible, and ongoing upgrades to bus stops. Nuremberg actively promotes the participation of persons with disabilities in city planning, and the Nuremberg Disability Council works closely with city planners to ensure that public spaces are accessible. Nuremberg’s long-term inclusion efforts include an Action Plan and an annual conference to address accessibility barriers. Additionally, the city runs inclusive cultural and social programmes, like the ‘Theatre Dreamteam’ – a group of performers with and without disabilities – to promote understanding of disabilities. For its dedication to ensuring accessibility across all areas of city life, Nuremberg wins second prize in the Access City Award 2025. 

Third place: Cartagena, Spain

Cartagena has made accessibility a central part of its urban development. Its pedestrian-friendly streets, accessible public spaces, and smart bus stops with audio announcements ensure persons with disabilities can move around the city with ease.  To support accessible tourism, the city offers Braille guides, accessible information on the city website, and augmented reality and audio features at bus stops. A standout initiative is the ‘Beach for All’ project, which provides assisted bathing services for persons with disabilities, with trained staff, amphibious wheelchairs, and accessible showers. Cartagena’s dedication to inclusion also extends to its cultural life. Public events offer accessible seating areas for persons with disabilities, assistive devices for people with visual impairments, along with immersive technology for remote participation. For its dedication to creating a welcoming, accessible city, Cartagena is a deserving third place winner in the Access City Award 2025. 

Special Mention for Accessible Sports Infrastructure: Nuremberg, Germany

Nuremberg is committed to accessible sports, investing in adapted sports centres, inclusive clubs and specialised equipment. In 2023, the city declared a ‘Year of Inclusion in Sport’, and now offers training for coaches in adaptive sports and an inclusive swimming programme. During the 2023 Special Olympics World Games for persons with intellectual disabilities, Nuremberg fostered partnerships between sports clubs, schools, and disability organisations. To continue these efforts, Nuremberg created a permanent role dedicated to ‘Inclusion through Sport’. 

Special Mention for Role Model on Built Environment and Transport: Borås, Sweden

Borås stands out for its accessible urban design. About 90% of public transport is accessible, and buses are equipped with audiovisual systems to assist persons with disabilities. Borås collaborates with parking companies to provide accessible parking spaces, and requires that public transport drivers are trained in assisting persons with disabilities. By working closely with disability organisations, Borås has gone beyond national standards to make public buildings, swimming areas and recreational spots, like birdwatching towers and fishing piers, fully accessible.