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The Brussels Summit visual identity takes inspiration from the yellow iris as the floral emblem of Brussels and embodies the colour palette of the flag of the European Union.

Heritage Matters for Europe!

We are delighted to invite you to the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025, from 12 to 15 October in Brussels, Belgium. Organised by Europa Nostra and co-funded by the European Union, the Brussels Summit will gather high-level representatives from EU Institutions, policymakers, heritage professionals and volunteers, civil society actors and other stakeholders from across Europe and beyond.

Holding this year’s European Cultural Heritage Summit in Brussels has a particular significance at a time when the European Commission is about to publish the EU’s very first “Culture Compass for Europe” and when EU Institutions and Member States have started discussing the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework Programme. This is why the Summit will be held under the motto “Heritage Matters for Europe”!

Focusing on the pivotal themes of Europe’s key values, starting with peace, democracy and solidarity, the Brussels Summit will highlight the political, societal, economic and environmental relevance of cultural heritage for the future of Europe and its citizens. It will celebrate the extraordinary achievements of the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025, while underscoring the crucial role of cities and civil society in safeguarding Europe’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

Find information about the main events of the Brussels Summit below. For the full Programme of the Summit, including the Europa Nostra General Assembly, please visit the Europa Nostra website.

The deadline to register for the Brussels Summit is 26 September 2025.

We look forward to welcoming our members and partners, the representatives of the EU Institutions, national governments and local/regional authorities as well as heritage enthusiasts and supporters at our Summit in Brussels.

The main events of the Brussels Summit are:

Sunday, 12 October 2025

European Heritage Excellence Day

13.30 - 19.00 | Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Auditorium 490)

The Excellence Day will showcase the very best heritage practices and the most inspiring heritage champions that contribute to shaping a more beautiful, cohesive, sustainable and democratic Europe. Coming from 24 countries across the continent, the 30 winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 will present their exemplary achievements, outline the challenges they overcame, and share experiences about the success and impact of their initiatives.

This year’s edition of our Awards features an impressive range of winners across its five categories, including the remarkable restoration of an Art Nouveau landmark in Belgium combining traditional craftsmanship with technical innovation; a ground-breaking research programme in Norway documenting half of the world’s glacial archaeological findings; an innovative initiative supporting the sustainable upkeep of built heritage in Slovakia; a successful restoration outreach project in France that has reached millions through digital content, social media, exhibitions and educational kits; and a heritage champion who has dedicated her career to preserving the built heritage of Greenland, Denmark. Browse through the Awards Magazine 2025 to find out more about all the winners. The European Heritage Excellence Day is jointly organised by Europa Nostra and the European Commission with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Monday, 13 October 2025 European Heritage Awards Ceremony 19.00 - 22.00 | Maison de la Radio, Flagey (Studio 4) Live streamed via www.europanostra.org The winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025 will be celebrated at a high-profile event, co-hosted by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, and Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, and attended by other distinguished guests. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will be held at Flagey, an iconic Art Deco building in Brussels. During the Ceremony, the Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner will be announced, chosen from among this year’s winners and entitled to receive €10,000 each. Discover the winners and cast your vote for the Public Choice Award until 12 September. The Ceremony, jointly organised by Europa Nostra and the European Commission with the support of the EU Creative Europe Programme, will be live streamed via the Europa Nostra website. The Ceremony will be followed by a festive reception. Tuesday, 14 October 2025 European Heritage Hub Forum “Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens” 10.30 - 18.00 | Town Hall of Brussels, La Grand Place Organised within the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub project, and in collaboration with the City of Brussels, this high-level forum at the Town Hall of Brussels, one of the most emblematic buildings in the Belgian capital which is also one of the capital cities of EU decision-making, will bring together representatives of EU Institutions, local authorities, civil society organisations and heritage professionals for a strategic policy dialogue. The European Heritage Hub Forum “Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens” will focus on how the forthcoming “Culture Compass for Europe” and the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) can more effectively support community-rooted heritage, cultural rights and democratic participation across Europe. As one of the key events of this year’s Summit, the Hub Forum will offer a unique opportunity to guide and inspire the future direction of Europe’s heritage policy, at all levels of governance, from local to European. Join this important Forum and lend your voice to shaping heritage policy discussions that truly reflect the needs and aspirations of Europe’s communities and heritage stakeholders. Wednesday 15 October 2025 European Heritage Policy Agora “The Europeans: Our Shared Cultural Roots and Values” including Europa Nostra Lecture by Orlando Figes & Dialogue with MEPs 09.30 - 13.30 | Zweig Visitor Centre, European Parliament (venue to be confirmed) Organised within the framework of the EU-funded Agora project, this event will offer a most inspiring platform to (re)discover and celebrate Europe’s shared cultural roots and values. This year’s Policy Agora will bring together historians, policymakers, civil society and cultural leaders to explore how Europe’s rich and diverse heritage can foster unity amid diversity and address contemporary challenges. Featuring a Europa Nostra annual lecture by the renowned British historian Orlando Figes, an expert panel discussion with Members of the European Parliament and a screening of the documentary “Une saga de l’Europe culturelle, au cœur du XIXe siècle” (ARTE TV, Bel Air Média, Centre Européen de Musique and Centre d’Études d’Europe Hispanique), the Policy Agora will highlight the vital role of culture and history in shaping European identity and strengthening the European project. Join this flagship event and engage in the conversation on how cultural heritage can build much-needed bridges between Europe’s citizens – across borders and generations. REGISTER & SHARE! Register ASAP and at the latest by 26 September! Spread widely the word about the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025 in Brussels through your own network, website and social media channels: www.europanostra.org/european-heritage-summit #EuropeanHeritageSummit2025 Credits │ Images 1-2: © Radoszek Arts / Europa Nostra │ Photo 3: © Pascale Vanschoonbeek / Shutterstock │ Image 4: © European Heritage Hub │ Photo 5: © European Union 2022 – Source: EP │ Photo 6: © Catarina Belova / Shutterstock EUROPA NOSTRA The European Voice of Civil Society Committed to Cultural Heritage Headquarters Lange Voorhout 15, 2514 EA The Hague, The Netherlands | +31 (0)70 302 40 50 | info@europanostra.org Brussels Office Rue de l'Industrie/Nijverheidstraat 10, 1000 Brussels, Belgium | bxl@europanostra.org Stay in touch with Europa Nostra! Click here to make sure you are subscribed to our emails Follow us With the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union Powered by YMLP.com