Valencia heads into 2026 with its 2024 European Green Capital credentials intact and its resilience tested. The devastating October 2024 floods disrupted politics and upended lives, but the port and tourism infrastructure has been stabilised and the beaches have lived to delight another day. Sustainability remains central. In 2025, the City of Arts and Sciences began installing a geothermal plant to slash energy use and emissions, reinforcing Valencia’s role as the first city in the world to verify the carbon footprint of its entire tourism sector. And the CAS’s L’Umbracle, Mya, along with the city’s countless other venues, contribute to a #11 ranking for Nightlife and #13 for Restaurants.
Flagship projects like Parque Central’s first 11.5 hectares of reclaimed railway yard green space have matured into vital public anchors, while CaixaForum València and the Centro de Arte Hortensia Herrero contribute to Valencia’s #19 ranking for Museums. Infrastructure development is accelerating. The spanking new pedestrian (and future tram) tunnel linking Xàtiva and Alacant stations is a key step in pulling Line 10 closer to the historic core. Summer 2025 saw record flight service, with more than 100 destinations, 37 airlines and 3.6 million inbound seats, a boost to a #76 Airports ranking.