Városliget Named Europe’s Best Large Urban Park This Year

Budapest’s Városliget (‘City Park’) has won the 2026 European Large Urban Parks Award from World Urban Parks (WUP), one of the world’s leading professional park organizations.

Benedek Gyorgyevics, CEO of Városliget Plc., announced at a press conference that the City Park was honored as Europe’s best large park this past weekend in Istanbul at the World Urban Parks awards ceremony. The award recognized the maintenance, management, and operation of the nearly 100-hectare park. He noted that more than ten million visitors come to Budapest’s “favorite public park” each year.

Fifty-five nominations were received from the five “global regions” for the 2026 World Urban Parks Awards. Four projects from Europe received recognition, with Városliget being honored in the “Large Urban Parks” category. Városliget received the award for its professional management, outstanding maintenance of green spaces, and high-quality visitor experience.

“When we were planning Városliget and its renovation, the original vision was for it to be both a cradle of culture and a wonderful park filled with exciting buildings and cultural attractions, as well as a recreational environment. Here in Istanbul, they specifically recognized the recreational environment,” the CEO said.

The programs and attractions taking place on the green spaces of Városliget place a burden on the park, but the affected areas are continuously being restored. Operations are carried out with a constant presence, measurable professional standards, and data-driven management,” Benedek Gyorgyevics noted.

He said they are confident that the park’s development will continue in the coming period. Referring to a previous government announcement, he noted that further park developments will be carried out following the completion of the 270,000 square meters already built.