Homberg (Efze) and Schwalmstadt have been newly admitted to the network of European Cities of the Reformation.

At a ceremony on 2 June 2025, General Secretary Mario Fischer awarded the two North Hessian towns the title of European City of the Reformation. The Reformation was introduced in the Landgraviate of Hesse at the Homberg Synod in 1526. In 1538, the synod in Ziegenhain, now a district of Schwalmstadt, adopted a church order. This Ziegenhain church discipline introduced confirmation for the first time, which has since been adopted by many Protestant churches. Dr Beate Hofmann, Bishop of the Protestant Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck, and Mayors Dr Nico Ritz and Tobias Kreuter also were involved into the award ceremony in Homberg.