Award After Award: Medellín Is Basically the Taylor Swift of Cities
Yes, Medellín. From mountains to medals, this city just keeps winning. Every year there’s a new trophy, a new global award, a new headline. Medellín has become the darling of international organizations, architects, travel magazines, and cultural leaders. Like Taylor Swift with Grammys, Medellín stacks recognition after recognition.
Here are some of the highlights that show why expats, retirees, and digital nomads love calling Medellín home:
1. Right Livelihood Award: International Poetry Festival (2006): The “Alternative Nobel” recognized Medellín’s Poetry Festival for building peace and cultural resilience during the toughest years of violence.
2. Ruta N – Innovation Hub with LEED Gold Certification (since 2009): Ruta N became the heart of Medellín’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, gaining global attention as a hub for startups and sustainable design.
3. Cultura E / CEDEZO (2010s–Present): Supported by the Gates Foundation, this network of libraries and community business centers transformed Medellín into an example of inclusive education and cultural empowerment.
4. Comuna 13 Transformation (2011–2022): Cable cars, outdoor escalators, murals, libraries. What was once a conflict zone is now a global model of urban renewal and community art.
5. Sustainable Transport Award (2012): Recognized by ITDP for its eco-friendly mobility: Metrocable, Metroplús BRT, and bike lanes. Medellín showed the world that public transport can also mean social inclusion.
6. Christmas Lights: Top 10 in the World (2012): National Geographic included Medellín’s Alumbrado Navideño among the top 10 holiday light spectacles on the planet. Twenty-seven million LEDs illuminate the city every December.
7. Most Innovative City in the World (2013): Medellín beat New York and Tel Aviv in a global contest organized by The Wall Street Journal, Citibank, and the Urban Land Institute. Nearly one million people voted. Medellín won.
8. Harvard Urban Design Prize (2013): The Veronica Rudge Green Prize recognized Medellín’s North-West Development Project: a visionary combination of cable cars, parks, libraries, and public spaces.
9. World Travel Awards: Best Meetings & Conference Destination (2014, 2015): The city proved it can host international events with the same efficiency as major capitals.
10. Flower Festival: National Intangible Cultural Heritage (2015): The Colombian Ministry of Culture honored the Flower Festival and the Silleteros Parade as national treasures. More than 500 silleteros parade each year, keeping the tradition alive.
11. World Travel Awards: Best Getaway Destination (2016, 2020, 2021): Medellín won three times thanks to its mountain climate, outdoor escapes, and vibrant urban adventures.
12. Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize (2016): Singapore awarded Medellín for reducing violence and creating inclusive urban solutions. This is considered one of the world’s most prestigious city awards.
13. Nearshore City of the Year (2019): Nearshore Americas named Medellín the best tech hub in Latin America for its digital talent, R&D, and software exports.
14. Ashden Award for Green Corridors (2019): The UK honored Medellín’s Green Corridors, which lowered city temperatures by 2 degrees and naturally fought the heat island effect.
15. UNESCO Learning City (2019): Medellín entered the Top 10 Learning Cities for its public libraries, adult education, and digital inclusion programs.
16. UNESCO Smart City Award (2019): Medellín stood out for its open digital platforms, citizen participation tools, and smart urban services.
17. Global Mayors COVID-19 Task Force (2020): Selected among 11 cities worldwide, Medellín was recognized for its innovative pandemic response and social support programs.
18. Global Resilient Cities Network (2020): Backed by the Rockefeller Foundation and the World Bank, Medellín joined global leaders in climate resilience and urban crisis management.
19. Time Out: Top 3 Global Cities to Visit (2022): Time Out named Medellín one of the top three cities worldwide. Laureles was also ranked as the 6th coolest street in the world.
20. Laureles: Coolest Neighborhood in the World (2023): Surveying more than 12,000 people, Time Out crowned Laureles number one worldwide. Cafés, nightlife, green spaces, strong community spirit. Laureles beat 40 neighborhoods globally.
So yes, Medellín keeps winning. From poetry to transport, from innovation hubs to Christmas lights, from festivals to climate solutions. Award after award, Medellín proves to the world that transformation is possible.
Want to explore award-winning Medellín with locals who know it best? Book our Orientation Tour and see for yourself why this city keeps topping the charts.
