Athens, February 13 – This year’s Smart City Awards celebrated Greek municipalities, regions, and companies for their innovative actions in the field of “smart cities.” Organizers emphasized projects that seamlessly combine digital transformation, sustainable development, and a tangible improvement in the everyday lives of citizens.
The Big Winners of 2026
The Municipality of Athens, the largest and most populous in the greater Athens-Piraeus agglomeration, received the coveted title of Smart City of the Year. The municipality was lauded for presenting an integrated model of a modern, sustainable, and digitally accessible city, setting a benchmark for the entire country.
To the west of Athens, within the Attica prefecture, the Municipality of Mandra – Idyllia was named Municipality of the Year. Organizers highlighted its applications focused on providing direct services to citizens. The Municipality of Kalamata also earned recognition, securing the title of “Smart Town of the Year.”
At the regional level, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace distinguished itself as the “Smart Region of the Year” for its successful implementation of digital transformation projects and sustainable development initiatives.
Technology and Social Cohesion
In the private sector, the company Crowdpolicy was awarded Smart City Supplier of the Year for its significant contributions to developing infrastructure that promotes transparency and participation in public administration.
Kudos for Gavdos
The most poignant moment of the evening was the presentation of the Platinum Prize to the Municipality of Gavdos. The project, titled “Cultural Workshop Gavdos: From Ruin to Pillar of Sustainability and Culture,” demonstrated that innovation does not always necessitate substantial budgets but rather requires vision and respect for tradition. Specifically, a ruined building on the small island, situated directly south of Crete, was transformed into a vibrant “cell of culture,” effectively linking sustainability with the island’s unique identity.
The awards ceremony underscored a growing commitment across Greece to leverage technology and innovative approaches to create more efficient, sustainable, and citizen-centric urban and regional environments.
Source: https://www.tovima.com/society/athens-mandra-and-gavdos-pick-up-smart-city-awards/
