Heritage projects from 18 countries, including Cyprus, Romania, Spain, Norway and Iceland, are among the 30 winners of the European Heritage Awards 2026.
Organized by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, and co-funded by the EU’s Creative Europe Program, the annual awards recognize outstanding achievements in heritage conservation, research, education, citizen engagement and heritage leadership across Europe.
Cyprus was recognized for “The Cypriot Fiddler”, an ethnographic research project documenting the life stories of some of the country’s last surviving traditional musicians.
The island nation also won an award for its “Nicosia – The Green Line Project”, which explores the history of the city’s Green Line. The Cyprus Green Line is the UN-patrolled buffer zone that has divided Cyprus since 1974, separating the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus in the south from the Turkish-controlled north, reflecting an unresolved conflict rooted in intercommunal violence, a Greek-backed coup, and Turkey’s military intervention. Cyprus is the only EU member state with part of its territory under foreign military occupation.
The ‘Nicosia – The Green Line Project’ explores the history of the city’s Green Line. The Cyprus Green Line is the UN-patrolled buffer zone that has divided Cyprus since 1974. Photo: The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
Among the other standout winners was Italy’s DumBO project in Bologna, which saw the transformation of a former 40,000m2 railway yard into a thriving cultural hub through low-cost, reversible interventions that balanced regeneration with sustainability.
Montenegro’s “Pacijenca” program was honoured for reviving the nearly lost Dobrota lace-making tradition by training more than 50 women in the craft, helping preserve both local skills and cultural identity.
The Gardens of Peace Project in France and Belgium also received recognition for creating contemporary public gardens along former First World War front lines, encouraging reflection, remembrance and dialogue on Europe’s shared history.
The Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest, Hungary.
This year’s competition drew 261 applications from 40 European countries, which were assessed by a jury of 10 heritage experts.
Public voting is now open for the 2026 Public Choice Award, with the winning project set to receive 10,000 euros. Voting closes on May 12.
The winners will be celebrated at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony on May 28 in Nicosia, during the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, which runs from May 26 to 30. The Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner will also be announced during the event.
“The awards celebrate the remarkable power of heritage to inspire, connect, and transform,” said Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. “In a rapidly changing world, this year’s winners demonstrate how our shared cultural legacy can drive sustainability, foster innovation, and strengthen the bonds that unite us,” he added.
