Oslo – Norway
During the ECCAR General Assembly and Steering Committee meeting in Oslo, member cities once again gathered to honour local authorities that turn anti-racism commitments into tangible, everyday justice. Following a vote by the General Assembly, the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR) proudly announces the City of Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland) as the winner of the ECCAR Award 2026 in the category of cities with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, and the City of Ghent (Belgium) as the winner in the category of cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. Together, their pioneering initiatives demonstrate how sustained local action, from the classroom to the labour market, can confront structural discrimination and inspire cities across the continent.
Yverdon-les-Bains: Empowering Youth Through Art, Dialogue, and Representation
In the smaller-cities category, Yverdon-les-Bains was awarded for its transformative school exhibition, “Let's Talk About Racism”. Commissioned by the municipality to tackle discrimination early and created by Solidarité Afrique Farafina, the project shines a vital spotlight on the often-overlooked health impacts of racism while fostering genuine dialogue across the school community. Over five months, an 11th-grade class participated in eight 90-minute creative workshops led by Mireille Keïta-Gilgien, featuring guest musicians and a photographer. Through games, storytelling, and djembe drumming, students explored discrimination and expressed themselves via original artwork, calabash masks, and written texts. An opening reception showcased their work and launched a 10-day exhibition that included guided tours for visiting classes, promoting engagement among peers and staff. Teachers were equipped with tools for ongoing discussions after the exhibition. The long-term format fostered deep trust, allowing students to empathise and share personal experiences. Representation was crucial, as students of colour connected with facilitators of the same background, discussing their experiences of racism for the first time. Evaluations highlighted increased awareness of racism's impacts, improved classroom cohesion, and meaningful peer identification, driving significant cultural change through creative expression.
Ghent: Turning Evidence into Accountability and Fairer Workplaces
In the larger-city category, Ghent received the award for Situation Testing in the Labour Market, a long-term model that deals with employment discrimination head-on. Fair access to work is a cornerstone of social inclusion, yet bias at the hiring stage often remains hidden behind closed doors. In 2015, testing commissioned by the City of Ghent found that job applicants with foreign-sounding names had a 30% lower chance of receiving interview invitations than those with Flemish names. In response, Ghent established a multi-stakeholder framework involving municipal departments, academia, and equal-opportunity bodies. The city paired legal enforcement with ongoing dialogue among civil society, employees, and employers to foster shared responsibility. This approach resulted in 121 employer files being retained for legal follow-up, with 111 being closed during proceedings and 10 referred to the Labour Inspectorate. Additionally, insights from the testing led to a guidance program launched in 2022 to promote fairer recruitment practices.
From nurturing empathy and representation among young people in Yverdon-les-Bains to enforcing equal opportunity and accountability in Ghent’s labour market, both winning cities embody the core principles of ECCAR’s 10-Point Action Plan. Their achievements send a clear message from Oslo to local authorities across Europe: when cities pair courage with concrete action, equality ceases to be an aspiration and becomes a lived reality for all.