ACES Europe

16/10/2026

🇧🇬🏆 PLOVDIV DREAMS BIG: EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT 2028! 🌟

🚀 The official ACES evaluation visit to Plovdiv, Bulgaria, has begun!

🏅 Already recognised as a European City of Sport, Plovdiv is now aiming even higher: to become European Capital of Sport 2028.

🇧🇬 If successful, Plovdiv would become the second Bulgarian city to receive this prestigious title, following Sofia in 2018.

💪 A city with a strong sporting tradition, great ambition and a passion for sport!

🌍 Good luck, Plovdiv! Let the journey begin! 🔥

15/10/2026

🌍🏅 Sport and tourism: connecting places, creating opportunities!

Today, the second edition of ACES – Territories in Motion brings institutions and local authorities together at TTG in Rimini to explore how sport can drive sustainable tourism, inclusion and local development.

🤝 Sharing Italian and European experiences to strengthen local identity and attract visitors all year round.

📍 Rimini Expo Center · Sala Noce (A6C6)
🗓️ 15 October 2026 | 12:30–14:00

14/10/2026

13/10/2026

🏅 Sport for everyone, without barriers! 💙

For the first time, Rzeszów 🇵🇱 — European City of Sport 2026 — hosted its Championships for People with Disabilities, bringing together over 60 participants at the UCL Centre for Innovative Research in Sport. 👏

🤝 A meaningful step towards more inclusive sport, creating opportunities to compete, connect and be part of the community.

🌍 Because everyone deserves a place in sport!

12/10/2026

🏆🎬🌍 ACES VIDEO AWARDS 2026: WE HAVE OUR WINNERS! 🥳👏

🇮🇹 NAPLES & TARANTO are the BIG WINNERS of AVA 2026 in Macerata, sharing the prestigious BEST OVERALL VIDEO AWARD! 🥇🏆

🎉 And a DOUBLE VICTORY for NAPLES, European Capital of Sport 2026, also winner of the AUDIENCE AWARD! ❤️👏

🌍 27 VIDEOS
🌎 9 COUNTRIES
🎬 2 CONTINENTS
💙 ONE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE: SPORT!

🏅 Congratulations to ALL our award-winning cities and regions from across Europe! 🇮🇹🇪🇸🇵🇹🇭🇷🇵🇱

✨ Creativity, inclusion, sustainability, tourism and passion for sport!

👏👏 A huge THANK YOU to ACES Italia, Overtime Festival, all participants and organisers!

💙💛 SPORT CONNECTS CITIES. SPORT UNITES PEOPLE! 🌍🤝

09/10/2026

🤝🌎 NEW AGREEMENT SIGNED!

Yesterday, ACES signed a new cooperation agreement to promote sport, strengthen international collaboration and create new opportunities for sports development across the Andean region. 🏆⚽🌍

💙💛 Together, we keep growing through sport!

08/10/2026

🏆🏆🏆🏆 THE ACES NUMBER ONES OF 2026 ARE HERE! 🌍🇪🇺✨

Every year, ACES recognises the BEST OF THE BEST among our European Cities, Towns, Regions and Communities of Sport! 💙💛

And the 2026 winners are… 🥁🥁🥁

🏙️ 🥇 BEST EUROPEAN CITY OF SPORT 2026
🇹🇷 SULTANGAZI – TÜRKİYE

🏘️ 🥇 BEST EUROPEAN TOWN OF SPORT 2026
🇫🇷 CESSON-SÉVIGNÉ – FRANCE

🌍 🥇 BEST EUROPEAN REGION OF SPORT 2026
🇭🇺 VESZPRÉM–BAKONY–BALATON – HUNGARY

🤝 🥇 BEST EUROPEAN COMMUNITY OF SPORT 2026
🇮🇹 LO SPORT È IN – ITALY

👏👏👏 CONGRATULATIONS!

More activities 🏃‍♀️⚽🏀
More participation 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🙌
More people involved 🤝
More innovation 💡
More inclusion ❤️
More opportunities to be active 💪
And an exemplary year of sport! 🌟

07/10/2026

📣 SAVE THE DATE – ACES AWARDS GALA 2026! 🏆✨

📅 10 December 2026 | 🕓 16:00–20:00
📍 European Parliament, Brussels 🇪🇺

A very special evening celebrating our 2027 Capitals, Cities, Towns, Regions and Communities of Sport. 🌍⭐

And a symbolic moment as our 2026 Capitals pass the baton to 2027:

🌍 Baku ➡️ Buenos Aires
🇪🇺 Naples ➡️ Zaragoza
🌎 Guayaquil ➡️ Zapopan, Mexico

One year ends, another begins — united by sport and the ACES family. 💙🏆

Save the date… See you in Brussels! 🇪🇺✨

06/10/2026

🇨🇴✨ This week, Colombia takes center stage in the Americas!

The ACES evaluation committee is currently in Colombia, assessing three exciting candidates: La Estrella, Tenjo and La Calera. 🏆⚽🏃‍♀️

Three communities, one shared passion: sport as a driving force for healthier, more active and inclusive cities. 💪🌎

A very special week for Colombian sport and for the ACES family in the Americas! 🇨🇴❤️

05/10/2026

🇧🇬✨ BYALA – EUROPEAN TOWN OF SPORT 2027 CANDIDATE 🏆

The ACES Evaluation Committee has been visiting Byala, Bulgaria, discovering its sports facilities, projects and commitment to an active and healthy community. 🏃‍♀️⚽🏟️

A great opportunity to experience first-hand the passion and vision behind Byala’s candidature for European Town of Sport 2027. 💙🇪🇺