The European Heritage Prize was established by the European Commission in 2002 and is administered by Europa Nostra.
Nearly 30 projects from 18 countries have been named laureates of the European Heritage Prize 2026, awarded by Europa Nostra.
“These projects – from pioneering risk prevention using artificial intelligence to hands-on training in traditional building methods – demonstrate that heritage is more than just the past, it is a living force for progress,” said Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Development, Culture, Youth and Sport.
Europa Nostra President Cecilia Bartoli stated that in a world marked by conflict, geopolitical tensions, and technological change, “the need to champion what unites us has never been more relevant and important.”
The awards ceremony will take place on May 28 in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Projects competed in five categories: from conservation and adaptive reuse to research, education, and awareness raising.
In Italy, the DumBO project transformed a former railway station in Bologna into a cultural center.
The Cypriot Fiddler research project documented the life stories of some of the last surviving traditional Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot musicians.
