The European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026, which are co‑funded by the Creative Europe programme. This year, Europe’s most prestigious heritage awards were presented to 30 projects and individuals from 18 countries across the continent.
Among this year’s award recipients is the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, which received the award in the category Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness‑Raising. Managed by the Public Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, the Centre presents the island’s coral‑harvesting heritage through exhibitions, educational programmes and cultural events. Open throughout the year to visitors, schoolchildren and local community associations, the Centre contributes to sustainable development and the creation of new opportunities on this small Adriatic island.
The awards jury highlighted:
“The Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin’s special focus on coral heritage is grounded in careful research into this island tradition, while the Centre’s work and activities are successfully communicated to the public. Particularly impressive is the scale of its impact for such a small island community: the Centre operates year‑round, supports sustainable local development, and serves as a model that can inspire similar initiatives on small islands across Europe.”
Katarina Gregov, Head of the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, emphasised that receiving this prestigious award represents a great honour and a confirmation that the Centre’s work has real meaning and a visible impact beyond the local island community.
“It is especially important to us that the award comes in the category ‘Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness‑Raising’, as recognition of our work with people and our strong community involvement. The Coral Centre was never conceived exclusively as a museum space, but rather as a place of gathering, learning, and preserving cultural and natural heritage, as well as a social hub for the entire community. This recognition is the result of continuous work, dedication and collaborations developed over the past three years since the Centre’s opening, through a wide range of programmes and activities. At the same time, this prestigious recognition further underlines the importance of such spaces in smaller communities – not only for preserving heritage and identity, but also for the long‑term development of the community,”added Katarina Gregov.
Following the announcement of this year’s laureates, heritage lovers and enthusiasts supporting its preservation are invited to explore all the winning projects virtually and vote online to determine the recipient of the Public Choice Award 2026, which includes a €10,000 cash prize. Voting is open until 12 May.
This year’s winners were selected by an Awards Jury composed of ten heritage experts from across Europe, based on the evaluation of all applications conducted by five selection committees. A total of 261 valid applications were submitted by organisations and individuals from 40 European countries.
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, stated:
“The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 celebrate the extraordinary power of heritage to inspire, connect and transform. In a rapidly changing world, this year’s winners demonstrate how our shared cultural heritage can foster sustainability, drive innovation and strengthen social bonds. I warmly congratulate all the award recipients – your outstanding work lights the way towards the future. From pioneering AI‑based risk‑prevention solutions to hands‑on training in traditional building techniques, these projects show that heritage is not just about the past, but a living force for progress. By revitalising traditional crafts with modern skills, adapting historic sites to future challenges, and engaging young people as active guardians of heritage, they prove that culture lies at the heart of Europe’s future.”
Cecilia Bartoli, world‑renowned mezzo‑soprano and President of Europa Nostra, added:
“I warmly congratulate the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 on this fully deserved recognition. The awarded projects and individuals demonstrate how heritage can inspire new generations, strengthen community life, and support local economies. In a world marked by conflict, geopolitical tensions and technological change, the need to promote what unites us has never been greater. Cultural heritage connects people across generations and borders and is a key bridge towards shaping more inclusive, sustainable and democratic societies in Europe and beyond.”
The awards will be presented at the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 Ceremony, which will take place on 28 May at the Municipal Theatre in Nicosia, Cyprus. The event will be held under the patronage of European Commissioner Glenn Micallef and the Executive President of Europa Nostra, Prof. Dr Hermann Parzinger.
The ceremony will also be attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Nikos Christodoulides, as the country currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, along with Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou, Deputy Minister of Culture of Cyprus, and other distinguished guests.
On this occasion, the Grand Prix laureates and the Public Choice Award winner—selected from this year’s European Heritage Award recipients—will be announced. Each will receive €10,000. The ceremony will be live‑streamed on Europa Nostra’s website.
The awards ceremony marks the highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, taking place from 26 to 30 May in Nicosia under the theme “Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum”. The summit will explore the (geo)political, social and environmental importance of heritage for Europe and the wider Mediterranean region. It is organised by Europa Nostra with the support of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia, under the patronage of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU and with the support of the European Union.
Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, CROATIA
Zlarin, whose historic island core is a protected cultural site, is one of 53 inhabited Croatian islands. During the winter months, fewer than 300 residents live on the island. For centuries, its identity and economy were shaped by the tradition of harvesting red coral. When coral in the Adriatic was declared a strictly protected species and harvesting ceased, the island faced depopulation and the gradual loss of this local tradition.
The Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin opened in 2023. This EU‑funded project, with a total value of €3.2 million, was initiated and successfully implemented by the City of Šibenik, representing one of the largest investments in cultural heritage on Croatian islands. The Centre is managed by the Public Institution Fortress of Culture. Coral has thus once again become a driver of local development—this time through a sustainable approach based on heritage interpretation, education and cultural activities.
The Centre is housed in two traditional buildings, Kažerma and Šare, connected by narrow stone streets, with a 420‑metre access road linking the harbour to the settlement. During restoration works, historic wall paintings and remains of a 1st‑century shipwreck were discovered, conserved and integrated into the permanent exhibition. Kažerma now hosts an interpretation centre dedicated to coral heritage and marine biodiversity, while the Šare House functions as a social‑cultural “living centre”, providing space and accommodation year‑round for researchers, artists and local associations.
Visitors can learn about coral‑processing traditions and explore marine ecosystems through augmented and virtual reality, interactive exhibits and tactile elements. The kinetic installation “Shared Breath” activates when visitors blow into a sensor, highlighting the fundamental connection between the sea and the air we breathe. Guided tours for international visitors and school groups from across Croatia link coral heritage with pressing topics such as rising sea temperatures, invasive species and marine pollution. A digital archive is also under development, bringing together historical sources and recordings related to Zlarin’s coral‑harvesting tradition.
Since opening, the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin has welcomed over 35,000 visitors. More than 200 cultural events, including workshops, lectures, concerts and film screenings, attracted nearly 5,000 participants, particularly in the pre‑ and post‑season periods. These activities resulted in a 20% increase in arrivals and a 16% rise in overnight stays on the island, demonstrating that investment in culture can deliver tangible economic and social benefits.
The Centre operates year‑round and works closely with local associations, schools and cultural organisations. Members of the local community have been trained as guides. All facilities are fully accessible, featuring stair‑climbing devices for wheelchair users, tactile signage, audio guides and trained staff on site at all times. The Centre’s shop offers locally made, environmentally friendly products.
Contact:
Katarina Gregov / Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin / katarina.gregov@tvrdjava-kulture.hr / www.hckz.hr
Winners – European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026
Category: Conservation and Adaptive Reuse
- Hungarian State Opera House, Budapest, Hungary
- Polirone Monastic Complex, San Benedetto Po, Italy
- Multifunctional Urban District of Bologna – DumBO, Italy
- Garden of Nikolai Astrup – Astruptunet, Vassenden, Norway
- Bánffy Castle, Răscruci, Romania
- Dome of the Church of Escuelas Pias of Valencia, Spain
- Salinas de La Concepción, Menorca, Spain
Category: Research
- The Cypriot Fiddler, Cyprus
- National Historical Archive of Italian Restorers – ASRI, Italy
- FENIX Project, Seville, Spain
Category: Education, Training and Skills
- Heritage Craft School, Iceland
- Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care Initiative, Dublin, Ireland
- International Summer School on Historic Masonry Structures – HIMASS, Italy / Spain
- Cita Rīga Initiative “Co‑creating Urban Heritage with Children”, Latvia
- Safeguarding the Dobrota Lace Tradition – Pacijenca Project, Kotor, Montenegro
- School of Renovation, Škofja Loka, Slovenia
Category: Citizens’ Engagement and Awareness‑Raising
- Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, Croatia
- Sector 2: Nicosia – The Green Line Project, Cyprus
- Gardens of Peace Project, France
- 14 Henrietta Street – Social History Museum of Dublin Life, Ireland
- Intorno a Minerva Project, Breno (Brescia), Italy
- Gothic Route Initiative, Slovakia
- Preserving the Art and Memory of Polina Raiko, Kherson, Ukraine
Category: Heritage Champions
- Din l‑Art Ħelwa – The National Trust for Malta, Valletta, Malta
- Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Preservation, Madrid, Spain
- Museum Open for Renovation NGO, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Maryna Hrytsenko †, Chernihiv, Ukraine (posthumous award)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra is the European voice of civil society dedicated to the protection and promotion of cultural and natural heritage. It is a pan‑European federation of heritage non‑governmental organisations, supported by a wide network of public bodies, private companies and individuals in more than 40 countries. As the most representative heritage network in Europe, Europa Nostra maintains close relations with the European Union, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and other international institutions. Europa Nostra celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023.
Europa Nostra actively advocates for the rescue of Europe’s endangered monuments, sites and landscapes, in particular through the 7 Most Endangered Programme. It also promotes and celebrates excellence through the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards.
The organisation contributes to shaping and implementing European heritage strategies and policies through participatory dialogue with European institutions, as well as by coordinating the European Heritage Alliance. Europa Nostra is also a partner of the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative and serves as a European member and supporter of the Climate Heritage Network. Since 2023, Europa Nostra has led a European consortium selected by the European Commission to implement the European Heritage Hub project.
Creative Europe
Creative Europe is the European Union’s leading programme supporting the cultural and creative sectors, including cultural heritage, enabling them to contribute more strongly to European society, the economy and quality of life. With a budget of over €2.4 billion for the period 2021–2027, the programme supports organisations across a wide range of cultural and creative fields, such as heritage, performing and visual arts, interdisciplinary arts, publishing, film, television, music and video games, as well as tens of thousands of artists and cultural and audiovisual professionals.
