The National Civic League is now accepting applications for the 2026 All-America City Award. The theme for 2026 is “America at 250: Strengthening Civic Health and Building Trust.” The League is seeking communities that are bringing our founding ideals to life by ensuring that people have the power and opportunity to shape their collective future.
Apply to join the 9 communities from Maryland that have won the All-America City Award! You can view the full list of past recipients here.
Communities interested in applying for the 2026 All-America City Award should submit a letter of intent to apply by January 5, which saves applicants $100 on the application fee. Please note that a letter of intent is not required to apply.
The full application can be downloaded online and is due February 26, 2026. Twenty finalists will be named in March of 2026 and will be invited to attend the All-America City Award event in Denver, CO in June, during which the ten eventual winners will be selected and announced.
2025 Theme and Criteria:
As the nation marks 250 years since its founding, we reflect on the ongoing journey to fulfill the promise of a government by, for, and of the people. The 2026 All-America City Award will spotlight communities across the country that are creatively engaging residents in collective efforts to create thriving and welcoming places where trust and belonging are abundant.
Across the country, Americans of all backgrounds and political perspectives are expressing growing frustration with a system that feels unresponsive, untrustworthy, and ineffective. Civic trust is declining, polarization is deepening, and many people feel disconnected from the decisions that shape their lives. Fortunately, democracy has never been static, it is a living system that can be renewed and reshaped through collective effort.
The 2026 award will honor communities that are reinventing how they come together to make decisions and solve problems. These communities engage residents, businesses, and public institutions in civic dialogue, collaboration, and community-building efforts that not only strengthen civic life and rebuild trust but also address pressing challenges and lay the foundation for a better future. By advancing innovative, community-driven approaches to governance, they are helping shape a more responsive, resilient democracy for the next 250 years.
About the Award:
Since 1949, the National Civic League has designated towns, boroughs, cities, counties, and regions as All-America Cities for their outstanding civic accomplishments. The award was described by George H. Gallup as the “Nobel Prize for constructive citizenship,” the award celebrates exemplary grassroots community problem-solving and honors communities that have united to achieve stunning results.
The award spurs communities to use innovative approaches to create stronger connections among residents, nonprofits, academic institutions, businesses, and government leaders. The AAC Award celebrates those efforts and becomes a platform for sharing innovation, inspiration, and insight with other communities throughout the country.
“The All-America City Award brings community stakeholders together to showcase and be recognized for the programs and projects that address resident-identified challenges,” said Rebecca Trout, Director of the All-America City Award. “Year after year, applicants tell us the process strengthens their pride in their community and energizes them to take on persistent challenges. The League is honored to elevate these innovative efforts on a national stage, helping communities learn from one another and scale promising practices across the country.”
About the National Civic League:
The mission of the National Civic League is to advance inclusive civic engagement and promote innovations in democracy to make decision-making more participatory, equitable, and effective.
Founded in 1894 by a group led by Teddy Roosevelt and Louis Brandeis, the League is America’s oldest good governance organization. The League championed many of the democracy innovations of the early 20th Century; today, the League maintains the Model City Charter, organizes the All-America City Award, publishes the National Civic Review, and supports an extensive national network of local elected, appointed, and civic leaders. The League’s Center for Democracy Innovation works with public officials in the U.S. to understand, test, and disseminate the next generation of civic innovations, which have the potential to make democracy more participatory, equitable, and productive.
For 77 years, the National Civic League’s All-America City Award has uncovered, celebrated, and disseminated the finest examples of American civic innovation by inviting communities across the country to apply for recognition based on the strength of their civic capital – the formal and informal relationships, networks and capacities that enable communities to solve problems and thrive. Each year over 500 people from 20 finalist communities share how their communities are working together to tackle challenges and create real change.
Learn more HERE and start your community’s application today:
