• The European Union recognizes with this award the cities that have made significant efforts to improve accessibility
- These awards promote equal access to urban life and encourage cities to share their best practices.
- The candidacy has been developed with the participation of the Foundation Visit Valencia, Valencia Innovation Capital, the Innovation Delegation, the General Projects Directorate, and the General Directorate of Disability of the City Council
- The Councilor for Social Services, Marta Torrado, has stated that «this candidacy is not only an opportunity for recognition, but the consolidation of València as a European reference in inclusive and sustainable policies»
Valencia is applying to be recognized as an Accessible European City, Access City Award EU 2026, the annual award with which the European Union recognizes and rewards cities that have made significant efforts to improve accessibility for both people with disabilities and the elderly. These awards promote equal access to urban life and encourage cities to share their best practices.
The Councilor for Social Services, Marta Torrado, presided over the meeting of the Municipal Council for Persons with Disabilities this afternoon, accompanied by the Director General of Disability of the City Council, Javier Copoví, a meeting where information about the Valencia candidacy was provided. The proposal has been developed with the participation of the Foundation Visit Valencia, Valencia Innovation Capital, the Innovation Delegation, the General Projects Directorate, and the General Directorate of Disability of the City Council. As Councilor Marta Torrado emphasized, «this candidacy is not only an opportunity for recognition, but the consolidation of València as a European reference in inclusive and sustainable policies.»
Institutional structure, technological innovation, and citizen participation
Valencia’s candidacy for the Access City Awards 2026 is based on three pillars: institutional structure, technological innovation, and citizen participation. In the first case, Valencia has a unique institutional structure, with a General Directorate of Disability that operates within the Mayor’s office, supported by six specialized accessibility offices, as well as the figure of the Ombudsman for Disabilities, and the action of the Municipal Council, which has active participation from the third sector.
Secondly, the significant technological innovations implemented by the city in this field are highlighted, including the implementation of the «Spot4Dis City» project, a sustainable and inclusive mobility technology solution that enhances the autonomy of people with reduced mobility. In fact, Valencia was the first city in the world to implement this Spot4Dis City system, which started in February 2024, with the aim of facilitating the location of PRM (for people with reduced mobility) spaces through the development of satellite image-based artificial intelligence, supported by Google.org.
In addition, the city has promoted the use of multipurpose Inclusive QR systems, especially in festive and cultural events, to encourage the social participation of people with disabilities. Furthermore, the development of the REDI program (Network for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), a direct communication system between the Local Police and associations of people with disabilities, has been promoted, which will support the training of the police force in dealing with and assisting these groups so that each of these entities has a reference officer in Valencia.
Finally, the municipal project to create an adapted interpretation center, which will be located in front of the Torres de Serranos, will allow people with functional diversity to have the opportunity to learn about this monument that is part of the city’s cultural heritage. This was the winning project of the GovTech challenges, promoted by Valencia Innovation Capital to improve life in cities with innovative and disruptive technologies.
The third section of the candidacy refers to the importance of real citizen participation in this area, highlighting the presence of people with disabilities in leadership positions in municipal management. Likewise, the co-design methodology of municipal initiatives is emphasized to ensure greater inclusion and sustainability in the results.
More than 122 active inclusion programs
Additionally, the city has over 122 active inclusion programs, including titles such as ‘Educating Without Limits’, aimed at municipal educational centers; ‘For Digital Talent’, ‘La Mare Que Va’ (a gastronomic project for labor inclusion), or the Mobility App, a mobile application designed to improve accessibility in urban mobility… among others.
Valencia’s candidacy aims to gain international recognition for the city to promote accessible tourism and attract investments. Valencia seeks to establish itself as a European benchmark in inclusive and sustainable policies, integrating accessibility as a pillar of its tourism strategic plan, while also seeking to strengthen European networks. As Councilor Marta Torrado highlighted, «this candidacy is not only an opportunity for recognition, but the consolidation of València as a European reference in inclusive and sustainable policies.»
