The European Commission and Europa Nostra have revealed the thirty winners of the 2026 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. Spanning eighteen countries, these awards celebrate projects safeguarding our shared cultural legacy. Looking at the list of laureates, there is a very strong presence of traditional crafts this year. It is a clear acknowledgement of the vital role making plays in preserving heritage.
Four specific initiatives stand out for their dedication to ancestral skills. In Iceland, the Heritage Craft School preserves ancient turf building techniques. The Pacijenca project in Montenegro revived the nearly extinct Dobrota lace making tradition. Over in Spain, the restoration of the Salinas de La Concepción brought historic salt making back to active production. Rounding out the group is the School of Renovation in Slovenia, providing essential hands on training in historic building skills. As European Commissioner Glenn Micallef noted, reviving traditional crafts with modern skills places culture at the heart of our future.
The winners will be celebrated at a dedicated ceremony on 28 May at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre in Cyprus. Until then, you can explore all the inspiring projects and cast your vote online for the Public Choice Award before 12 May.
photo: Europa Nostra / Krzysztof Radoszek