AlpTextyles, the EU Cohesion Policy project, is shortlisted for the 2026 RegioStars Awards, promoted by the European Commission
Beautiful news for AlpTextyles – Intertwining Cultures. The Interreg Alpine Space project, for which we served as communication partner from 2023 to 2025, has been selected as one of the 25 finalists of the 2026 RegioStars Awards, the European Commission’s flagship competition recognizing the most impactful projects funded through the EU Cohesion Policy.
AlpTextyles stemmed from the idea to valorize and revitalize the textile heritage of the Alpine region through contemporary interpretations and applications of the circular principles that once defined these production systems. By connecting farmers, artisans, designers, businesses, and local communities across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland, the project has fostered new cross-border collaborations and strengthened regional wool-based textile value chains. The impact has already translated into tangible outcomes, including the development of new products (from wool-based materials and bespoke objects to natural dyes), university courses and study programmes, communication tools (including a Policy Brief and a Toolkit for SMEs), textile-focused Summer Schools and community festivals, new collaboration networks, and, above all, the engagement of students from several universities in Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
AlpTextyles is competing in the “A Green Europe” category, which highlights projects contributing to the ecological transition and the development of more sustainable growth models and lifestyles. Being shortlisted is a significant recognition of the work carried out by the consortium’s 12 partner organizations, all committed to advancing circular approaches, innovative forms of collaboration, and new business models for the Alpine textile sector.
For Bellissimo, the project’s communication partner, the nomination is also an opportunity to reflect on a journey that has brought together institutions, businesses, designers, research centers, and local communities around a shared vision for the future of textiles.
The RegioStars shortlist also comes at a meaningful moment of transition. In September, WISER, a new Interreg Alpine Space project, will officially launch, building on the legacy of AlpTextyles and further developing its results, networks, and vision — and Bellissimo is proud to continue this journey as WISER’s communication partner.
Public voting for the 2026 RegioStars Awards opens on September 3 via this link.
Published: Jul 15, 2026
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