Albufeira is seeking to boast ‘European City of Sport’ title in 2026
After a year of hard work, Albufeira took a major step forward in its bid to become a European City of Sport for 2026. From October 16 to 18, the municipality hosted the Evaluation Commission, led by Gian Francesco Lupattelli, president of ACES Europe, along with other key figures from the organisation.
The commission’s visit aimed to assess the city’s sports infrastructure and the work being done by local clubs and associations, as well as understand Albufeira’s vision for the future of sports.
The commission was greeted by local officials, sports ambassadors, athletes, and residents. The welcome ceremony included a vibrant performance by the Rancho Folclórico de Albufeira, showcasing the region’s cultural heritage.
A key moment was the presentation of the official bid dossier, “Albufeira’26 – Candidate for European City of Sport,” to Gian Lupattelli.
During the event, Albufeira mayor José Carlos Rolo thanked the local working group, headed by deputy mayor Cristiano Cabrita, for their effort and dedication to creating the municipality’s bid. “Their work and commitment are very important to achieve the goals we set, so it is fair to say that this working group was vital to reach this moment,” the mayor said.
Rolo underlined that Albufeira has “excellent sports infrastructure, knowhow and capacity to organise and host big sports events on a national and international level” and a large number of sports clubs and associations.
Despite being a “relatively small municipality”, Albufeira boasts one of the highest numbers of registered athletes in the Algarve, the mayor said, with 3,220 athletes, including 2,241 federated across 28 sports, supported by 51 clubs and 27 quality sports facilities. The municipality also permanently supports 11 internationally recognised athletes and organises numerous sports events throughout the year.
In addition to competition and training, the mayor stressed the importance of sports in teaching values like discipline, tolerance, inclusion, and respect. He highlighted the social impact of sports and reinforced Albufeira’s campaign slogan, “Sport is for Everyone,” noting that equality and peace are central values in sports.
Health is another key focus, with programs tailored for all ages, including initiatives for obesity and diabetes, and the “Clube Avô” program for seniors. The mayor also underscored the economic benefits of sports, particularly in attracting visitors for competitions and training camps, which helps combat seasonal tourism slumps. He reiterated Albufeira’s commitment to developing new sports facilities and ensuring continuous investment based on local needs.
The final speech of the day was given by Gian Lupattelli, who highlighted Albufeira’s international reputation as a tourist destination, with a large foreign resident population, and praised the town’s strategy of linking sports with tourism.
He expressed his happiness at seeing the room filled with athletes, local officials, and ambassadors of the bid, all united in pursuit of this common goal.
The voting to decide whether Albufeira will be granted the coveted ‘European City of Sport’ title in 2026 will take place in Brussels in November. Portuguese municipality Paredes is also in the running.
