Deadline: September 9, 2025
Applications are open for the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2026. The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards aim to identify, recognise and champion best practices in the protection and conservation of cultural heritage as well as innovative developments and knowledge in the care and promotion of tangible, intangible and digital cultural heritage.
Through the power of example, the scheme enables the exchange and transfer of experiences and skills across borders and between communities in Europe and beyond. It increases the visibility and understanding of the multiple values of cultural heritage for Europe’s society, economy, environment and culture.
The Awards were launched in 2002 by the European Union and are supported by the Creative Europe Programme. Since its launch, Europa Nostra, the European Voice of Civil Society Committed to Cultural Heritage, has been responsible for running this awards scheme.
Categories
Outstanding heritage achievements will be awarded in the following categories:
- Conservation & Adaptive Reuse;
- Research;
- Education, Training & Skills;
- Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising; and
- Heritage Champions.
Benefits
Winning a European Heritage Award will bring:
- Visibility: Gain recognition across Europe and beyond, greater media attention, new audiences and partners, and potential funding;
- Monetary Prizes: Have the chance to receive a Grand Prix (€10,000) and/or the Public Choice Award (€10,000); and
- Networking: Join a pan-European network of heritage professionals, experts, and enthusiasts, and share your story across Europe.
Eligibility
- Entries can be related to tangible, intangible or digital heritage. The scope of the entries can be ranging from small to large, from local to European and international.
- Entries for the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme, may only be submitted from countries participating in the Culture strand of the Creative Europe Programme, i.e. the EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.
- Entries submitted from countries that are members of the Council of Europe but are not participating in the Culture strand of the Creative Europe Programme are only eligible for the Europa Nostra Awards.
Application
The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, 9 September 2025 at 23:59 CEST.
For more information, visit European Heritage Awards.
