Rzeszów

Rzeszów is the capital of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland, on the banks of the River Wisłok. With around 198,000 inhabitants, it is the region's main urban centre and one of the country's most dynamic cities: home to the aerospace cluster known as 'Aviation Valley', a university city and a hub of technological innovation. That economic drive is matched by an intense sporting life that has earned it European recognition.

In Rzeszów, volleyball is lived as a national sport. Asseco Resovia — seven-time Polish champions and three-time cup winners — and the women's side Developres fill the Podpromie hall, which draws close to 4,000 fans. The city also has a deep speedway tradition — Stal Rzeszów, active since 1948 and twice Polish champions — and a football heritage, with Stal and Resovia (founded in 1905) sharing the Municipal Stadium, which hosted the 2025 Women's Under-19 Euro final. That fabric of clubs and venues sustains sporting activity that reaches far beyond the elite.

This combination of infrastructure, clubs and public participation led ACES to name Rzeszów European City of Sport 2026. The award recognises a sustained commitment to sport as a tool for health, social cohesion and civic profile, and places Rzeszów within the European network of ACES cities that share that vision. For the Subcarpathian capital, the designation is also an international showcase that reinforces its image as a young, active and fast-growing city.