Lithuanian "Oak of Laukiai" becomes the European Tree of the Year 2026
The Lithuanian Oak of Laukiai from the village of Rukai has won the 15th edition of the European Tree of the Year contest. The Old Wild Apple Tree from Slovakia takes second place, while the Crooked Tree from Poland ranks third. The new Tree Points system brought overall 32,902 points, cast by more than 200,000 unique voters.
The 400 year old Oak of Laukiai once stood almost forgotten, known only to the people of the small Rukai village. A year ago, however, the local community restored the area around the tree and organised a celebration in its honour, bringing people together and reminding them of its quiet strength. Today, the sixth generation of the Laukiai people is growing up alongside this oak.
The Old Wild Apple Tree, which placed second, has withstood wind, rain, snowstorms, and heat waves for more than 150 years, growing in harsh conditions at an altitude of 860 meters. From a place called Diel, it quietly watches over the village below – a silent observer of its joys, troubles, and changes. The third placed Crooked Elm of Szyslowiec rises above the moat on an island near the former castle of the Szydłowiecki and Radziwiłł families. Its unusual shape comes from its location, forcing it to lean toward the water.
This year, for the first time, the trees competed for Tree points instead of votes. "The competition was extremely close – the ranking remained uncertain until the very last moment. This year’s magnificent trees attracted huge attention across Europe. During the voting period, the website recorded around 1.5 million visits, with more than 200,000 unique voters – people who care about nature and the environment,” evaluates this years contest Petr Skrivanek, Coordinator of the European Tree of the Year.
The Award Ceremony, moderated by Mrs. Natalie Pauwels and Mr. Ladislav Miko, takes place on March 24th at the European Parliament in Brussels. The whole ceremony is streamed live on the YouTube channel of the contest.
The keynote address will be delivered by a very special guest at the Award Ceremony, Eric Mamer, Director-General for Environment at the European Commission. The event is held under the auspices of three Members of the European Parliament: Danuše Nerudová, Luděk Niedermayer and Michal Wiezik.
MEP Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe) highlights that: "Old, magnificent trees are like silent pillars of our time. They stand firm where the world around them changes in a fast and unpredictable gallop. In their rings lies the memory of the landscape and of society, reminding us all that true stability does not arise from haste, but from patient and quiet growth. When we care for them, we are not only protecting nature, but also our own ability to stay rooted in unsettled times and to remember all the days that have shaped our present.”
The partners of the European Tree of the Year are also Škoda Auto Endowment Fund, the Czech Ministry of the Environment and the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic.
“Strong public engagement in the European Tree of the Year contest voting indicates that trees are not only an integral part of the landscape, but are also perceived as bearers of stories, local identity, continuity, and people’s connection to nature. This topic is particularly close to the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic, which has long supported tree planting and the care of landscape elements that are essential for the ecological stability of the landscape as well as for quality of life,” says Petr Valdman, the Director of the State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic.
