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“Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum”

We are delighted to invite you to the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, taking place from 26 to 30 May in Nicosia, Cyprus, under the motto “Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum”. Organised by Europa Nostra in cooperation with the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia, this Summit is held under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, and is supported by the European Union.

Holding this year’s Summit in Cyprus is particularly meaningful. Situated at the crossroads of Europe and the Middle East, Cyprus embodies both the complexities and the opportunities of the shared heritage of the Mediterranean — Mare Nostrum. The island’s experience with division and reconciliation efforts offers a powerful backdrop for discussions on heritage as a peace-building instrument.

The Nicosia 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.

From the In Varietate Concordia Talk – bringing together leading intellectuals and cultural figures from the wider Mediterranean region to reflect on the shared heritage that has shaped its civilisations across millennia – to the European Heritage Awards Ceremony – celebrating the extraordinary achievements of the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 – the Nicosia Summit will highlight the (geo)political, societal, economic and environmental relevance of cultural heritage for Europe and the wider Mediterranean.

The European Heritage Policy Agora will explore how cultural heritage can drive sustainable development across the Mediterranean. It will show how initiatives linking cultural and natural heritage strengthen climate action, boost the resilience of the heritage ecosystem, and promote inclusive communities.

The European Heritage Hub Forum will focus on cultural heritage as a powerful vector of peace across the Mediterranean, with special emphasis on the Middle East. It will highlight projects of Europe-Middle East cooperation, demonstrating how sustained collaboration between European civil society organisations and local partners from the Middle East can strengthen community resilience and foster peaceful engagement.

Find information about the main events of the Nicosia Summit below. For the full Programme of the Summit – including the Welcome Reception hosted by the Mayor of Nicosia, the Europa Nostra General Assembly, the Cultural Visits, and the Programme organised and hosted by the Turkish Cypriot Members of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia, please check the Europa Nostra website.

We are immensely grateful to all partners and supporters of the Nicosia Summit. A special thanks goes to our main European partner, the European Commission, to our long-standing supporter from Cyprus, The A. G. Leventis Foundation, and to our new supporter from the UK, the British Council’s Cultural Protection Fund.

We sincerely hope that diplomatic talks will soon lead to a de-escalation and eventual halt of the current alarming spiral of hostilities in the Middle East, and that the geopolitical tensions in the region will not undermine our plans to welcome many of you in Nicosia: our members, partners and supporters, representatives of the EU Institutions, national, regional and local authorities, and private foundations as well as heritage enthusiasts from across Europe and beyond. Together, let us further intensify our collaboration without frontiers in support of the shared heritage and values of Europe and of Humanity as a whole.

The main events of the Nicosia Summit are:

Tuesday, 26 May 2026

In Varietate Concordia Talk

18.00 – 20.00 EET | The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia

Entitled ‘Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum’, the second In Varietate Concordia Talk will bring together leading intellectuals and cultural figures from the wider Mediterranean region to reflect on the shared heritage that has shaped its civilisations across millennia.

At a time when the Mediterranean is marked by both deep interconnections and complex geopolitical tensions, the discussion will explore how cultural heritage can serve as a bridge across divides and as a source of resilience, dialogue and solidarity. From ancient exchanges of knowledge and artistic expression to contemporary narratives of identity and coexistence, the conversation will highlight the enduring relevance of the region’s layered histories.

In a period of global uncertainty and democratic fragility, the Talk will also consider how the Mediterranean’s plural identities can inspire a renewed commitment to Europe’s core values: human dignity, freedom, equality, justice and mutual respect.

The In Varietate Concordia Talk is organised by Centro Nacional de Cultura, Europa Nostra and the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub and has the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. The Talk will be held at The Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia.

Wednesday, 27 May 2026 European Heritage Excellence Day 2026 14.00 – 19.00 EET (13:30 Registration) | THOC Theatre Following the announcement of the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 on 21 April, this year’s laureates, coming from 18 countries across Europe, will gather in Nicosia to present and celebrate their exemplary achievements with a wider audience. The European Heritage Excellence Day will spotlight the very best heritage projects and champions that contribute to shaping a more beautiful, cohesive, sustainable and united Europe. During the event, the winners will showcase their outstanding achievements, share key learnings, and explore the impact of their initiatives across Europe’s heritage landscape. The presentations will be divided into sessions dedicated to the five categories of the Awards: 1) Conservation & Adaptive Reuse; 2) Research; 3) Education, Training & Skills; 4) Citizens’ Engagement & Awareness-raising; and 5) Heritage Champions. 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. The event will take place at the THOC Theatre (photo below). Thursday, 28 May 2026 European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2026 20.00 – 22.00 EET (Doors open at 19:15) | Municipal Theatre of Nicosia Live streamed via europanostra.org The winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 will be honoured 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. The European Heritage Awards Ceremony will be held at the Municipal Theatre of Nicosia (photo below) in the presence of H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, and other distinguished guests. 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. The event will include an accompanying musical programme, featuring live performances by the internationally renowned Cypriot singer and songwriter Vakia Stavrou, the pianist Manolis Neophytou, the soprano Mariza Anastasiadou and members of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Ceremony is jointly organised by Europa Nostra and the European Commission with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the EU. The Ceremony will be live streamed via the Europa Nostra website. The event will be followed by a festive reception offered by the Deputy Ministry of Culture. Friday, 29 May 2026 European Heritage Policy Agora 2026 “Mare Nostrum: Championing Sustainability through Heritage” 10.00 – 12:30 EET (09:30 Registration) | CYENS Centre of Excellence The Agora will explore how cultural heritage can drive sustainable development across the Mediterranean. By highlighting projects, this event will show how initiatives linking cultural and natural heritage strengthen climate action, boost the resilience of the heritage ecosystem, and promote inclusive communities. The Agora will foster dialogue among heritage professionals, environmental experts, and policy actors to better align cultural, climate, and environmental strategies of the European Union. The European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, was invited to address the Agora. By engaging communities and stakeholders, this event will encourage shared responsibility, regional cohesion, and community-led stewardship. It will reaffirm the Mediterranean as a space where heritage is a living tool for sustainability, partnership, and resilient futures. The Agora is organised within the framework of the EU-funded Europa Nostra Heritage Agora network project and has the support of the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Both the European Heritage Policy Agora and the European Heritage Hub Forum will take place at the Central Hall of CYENS Centre of Excellence (photo below), former Municipal Market of Nicosia, winner of a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award 2025. European Heritage Hub Forum 2026 “Mare Nostrum: Fostering Peace through Heritage” 14.00 – 17:00 EET | CYENS Centre of Excellence The European Heritage Hub Forum will focus on cultural heritage as a powerful vector of peace across the Mediterranean, with special emphasis on the Middle East. In a region marked by conflict, division and political tensions, heritage can serve as a bridge between communities that share intertwined histories. From bi-communal initiatives to cross-border partnerships, cultural cooperation creates meaningful spaces for dialogue, mutual recognition and trust-building. By transforming shared memory into shared responsibility, heritage initiatives contribute to reconciliation and long-term stability. The Forum will highlight projects of Europe-Middle East cooperation, demonstrating how sustained collaboration between European civil society organisations and local partners from the Middle East can strengthen community resilience and foster peaceful engagement. The event will thus reaffirm the Mediterranean as a shared cultural space — where heritage is not only a legacy of the past, but a living instrument for dialogue, partnership and peace. The Forum is organised within the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub project and has the support of the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council. REGISTER & SHARE! Register ASAP and at the latest by 11 May! Spread widely the word about the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 in Nicosia through your own network, website and social media channels: www.europanostra.org/european-heritage-summit #EuropeanHeritageSummit2026 Credits │ Image 1: © Radoszek Arts / Europa Nostra │ Photo 2: © European Heritage Hub │ Photo 3: © Louisa Nikolaidou Archive © Cyprus Theatre Organisation │ Photo 4: © DyziO / Shutterstock.com │ Photo 5: Courtesy of CYENS Centre of Excellence │ Image 6: © Radoszek Arts / Europa Nostra 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 Avenue Palmerston / Palmerstonlaan 2 - B, 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