The European Heritage Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and are run by Europa Nostra.
Some 30 projects from 18 countries have won the 2026 European Heritage Awards bestowed by Europa Nostra.
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"From pioneering AI-based risk prevention to hands-on training in traditional building techniques, these projects show that heritage is not just about the past, it is a living force for progress," Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, said.
President of Europa Nostra Cecilia Bartoli stated that in a world marked by conflicts, geopolitical tensions and technological change, "the need to champion what unites us has become more urgent and important than ever."
The awards ceremony will take place on 28 May in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Five categories
The projects were competing in five categories, ranging from conservation and adaptive reuse to research, education and awareness-raising.
In Italy, the DumBO project turned a former railway yard in Bologna into a cultural hub.
The Cypriot Fiddler research project documented the life stories of some of the last surviving traditional Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians.
In Montenegro, the Pacijenca project revived the nearly extinct Dobrota lace tradition.
In France and Belgium, the Gardens of Peace project created contemporary public gardens along the First World War front line to rethink how Europeans remember conflict.
The National Trust for Malta has been protecting the island's heritage since 1965, shortly after the country gained independence.
Heritage supporters can vote online for the Public Choice Award 2026 until 12 May.
