Five cities have been shortlisted for the 2024 Access City Award competition: Łódź, Saint-Quentin, San Cristóbal de la Laguna, South Dublin County and Tübingen.

These cities have been selected as finalists for the 2024 Access City Award:

• Łódź (Poland)
• Saint-Quentin (France)
• San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Spain)
• South Dublin County (Ireland)
• Tübingen (Germany) 

These cities have demonstrated best practices and highlighted their commitment to ensure accessibility to urban life for all, including persons with disabilities and older citizens, including for built environment, public transport, facilities, and services, as well as information and communication technologies and services.

Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said: “Cities throughout the European Union are dedicated to removing barriers and creating truly accessible urban spaces for all. At the same time, cities are embracing the digital and green transitions, which present opportunities, and a responsibility to ensure these transitions benefit everyone including persons with disabilities.The Access City Award recognises and celebrates cities that prioritise accessibility to improve the quality of life.”

National experts pre-selected 21 applications out of 32 cities, while the five finalists were then shortlisted by an EU jury.

The 2024 Access City Award winners will be announced on 1 December 2023 at an award ceremony during the European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference, organised jointly by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum.

The ceremony will be broadcasted live, starting at 9.30 AM, and will feature international sign interpretation, audio-description and English captioning.