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Mayor encourages everyone to vote for Waterside Shared Village in Prestigious REGIOSTARS Awards

23 September 2026

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council is encouraging everyone to get behind the Waterside Shared Village as they are nominated for a prestigious European award.  

The Waterside Shared Village has been shortlisted for the 2026 REGIOSTARS Awards becoming the only project from the UK to reach the finals of this year’s competition.

Organised annually by the European Commission, the REGIOSTARS Awards recognise the most innovative and impactful EU-funded projects across Europe, celebrating initiatives that deliver lasting benefits for communities and regions. This year saw a record 274 applications submitted, with just 25 projects selected as finalists across five categories.

The PEACE Programme-funded Waterside Shared Village has been shortlisted in the category ‘A Europe Closer to the Citizens’, which recognises projects that strengthen communities and support the sustainable development of local areas.

Drumming up support for the Waterside Shared Village, the Mayor of DCSDC, Cllr Grace Uí Niallais said, “I would like to ask everyone across the city and district to get online and vote for one of our amazing leisure and community facilities here in Derry and Strabane. We are delighted they have been recognised at such a prestigious level and we wish them all the luck in the world!”

The Waterside Shared Village transformed a former interface area into a vibrant shared space featuring state-of-the-art sports facilities and a community hub. The European Commission described the project as a place “where communities connect and sport unites, bringing people together at the heart of the Waterside.”

The finalists will present their projects to an international jury during the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, with winners announced at the REGIOSTARS Awards ceremony on 14 October 2026.

The shortlisting represents significant international recognition for the Waterside Shared Village and highlights the positive impact the project continues to have in bringing communities together and promoting a shared future for everyone.  

A public vote is also open to decide the People's Choice Award. You can vote here: https://tinyurl.com/c4ch3x9z