For the first year since its conception, cities across Europe with more than 100,000 inhabitants were eligible to apply; previously only cities with a population of 200,000 or more qualified.
Esimest korda auhinna ajaloos võisid konkursil osaleda üle 100 000 elanikuga Euroopa linnad; varem võisid kandideerida vaid linnad, mille rahvaarv on üle 200 000.