Commission celebrates European cultural heritage

The coming week will be marked by several key moments for the celebration of European cultural heritage.

Earlier today, the European Commission and Europa Nostra announced the 30 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026. The Awards, which are co-funded by the EU's Creative Europe Programme, celebrate outstanding achievements in the conservation, research, and promotion of Europe's cultural heritage. This year's award ceremony will take place on 28 May, against the backdrop of the 2026 European Cultural Heritage Summit in Nicosia, Cyprus. During the ceremony, the names of five Grand Prix laureates and one Public Choice Award winner will be announced, each receiving €10,000. Online voting for the Public Choice Award starts today.

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, will hold an implementation dialogue on the European Heritage Label (EHL) initiative, contributing to the ongoing review of the legal basis establishing this initiative.

This meeting will be followed by the European Heritage Label ceremony at the Arts and History Museum in Brussels. During the ceremony, 13 newly designated sites from across the EU will be awarded the European Heritage Label 2025, officially recognising their outstanding contribution to European history, culture, and identity.

A forum with European Heritage Label stakeholders will then take place from 23 to 24 April, allowing participants to exchange best practices, build partnerships and strengthen cooperation. The aim of this forum is to foster a sense of belonging towards a common European space shaped by history, memory and values.