Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu Receives Eurocities’ “City Heroes” Award

Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, has received the “City Heroes” Award from Eurocities, Europe’s leading network of cities.

The award, which recognizes local leaders for fostering international cooperation, strengthening solidarity among cities, and enhancing the role of local governments on the global stage, was presented this year to Mr. İmamoğlu in recognition of his role as the Founding President of the B40 Balkan Cities Network.

Mr. Nuri Aslan, Acting Mayor of Istanbul, received the award on behalf of Mr. İmamoğlu at the ceremony held during the Eurocities Annual Conference 2026, which took place in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 8 to 10 June.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Aslan noted that Eurocities’ vision of intercity solidarity and democratic local governance continues to resonate strongly on international platforms. He further emphasized that the award also carries a message of solidarity.

The B40 Balkan Cities Network was established in Istanbul in 2021 under the leadership of Mr. İmamoğlu with the participation of 23 cities from across the Balkans. Today, the network brings together 77 member cities from 12 Balkan countries.