The Nicosia Municipal Theatre took center stage as host of Europe’s premier cultural heritage ceremony under the Cyprus EU Presidency. Five remarkable Grand Prix laureates were honored, including a deeply impactful musical research project from Cyprus and a courageous posthumous award celebrating a fallen Ukrainian museum custodian.

The 30 winners of the 2026 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, the highest heritage accolade in Europe, were celebrated Thursday evening during a high-profile event held at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre.

On behalf of the European Commission, Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, took part in the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, and Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, conveyed a congratulatory video message to the winners. The Ceremony was attended by President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, the Deputy Minister of Culture of Cyprus, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, and other distinguished guests.

According to the organisers, the Awards Ceremony gathered some 500 heritage professionals, volunteers, enthusiasts and supporters from across Europe and beyond. Organised by Europa Nostra – the leading European heritage civil society network, and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, the Awards Ceremony was the largest event of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, which is being held from 26 to 30 May in Nicosia under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The European Commission and Europa Nostra presented five laureates with the Grand Prix and one winner with the Public Choice Award for 2026, all of which received a monetary award of €10,000. The Grand Prix winners were selected from among this year’s winners by the Board of Europa Nostra, based on the recommendation of an independent jury of experts.

Polirone Monastic Complex, San Benedetto Po, ITALY - Grand Prix winner in the category Conservation & Adaptive Reuse

The press release says that this iconic heritage landmark of Northern Italy was in serious decline in the early 2000s. Following the earthquake of 2012, which caused structural damage, the Polirone Monastic Complex was listed among Europe’s 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in 2013. The restoration of the complex unfolded as a long-term and holistic process that gradually brought the site back to life. “Led by the Municipality of San Benedetto Po, which successfully secured funding and played a pivotal role throughout, the project went beyond mere renovation; it preserved the site’s authenticity and identity while safeguarding its enduring ‘genius loci’ for future generations,” highlighted the Board of Europa Nostra.

The Cypriot Fiddler is a long-term ethnographic research project dedicated to documenting the intangible heritage of traditional musicians in Cyprus. It stands as a testament to a fragile intangible heritage, at risk of disappearing due to the advanced age of its practitioners and the inherently oral nature of its transmission. “The Cypriot Fiddler highlights the unifying power of music as a bridge across geographic, historical and cultural divides, with a special focus on fostering connections between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians. Thanks to the outstanding expertise and dedication of Dr. Nicoletta Dimitriou, this oral tradition has been carefully documented and preserved,” emphasised the Board of Europa Nostra.

The Office of Public Works in Ireland developed practical guidance and a technical training programme to help public authorities improve the energy performance of historic buildings without compromising their heritage value. “This initiative conveys a truly impactful message, demonstrating what can be achieved through climate-focused approaches in the cultural heritage sector, while establishing clear methodologies and training frameworks that are both replicable and transferable. Cultural heritage values and climate action go hand in hand, paving the way towards a sustainable future,” noted the Board of Europa Nostra.

Throughout 60 years, Din l-Art Ħelwa has demonstrated unwavering civil society dedication and effective commitment to safeguarding and celebrating cultural and natural heritage in Malta. “In the face of growing pressures from climate change, overtourism and the high-impact development on the built environment, the values-based and volunteer-driven organisation has consistently addressed complex challenges for the benefit of all. Din l-Art Ħelwa stands today as a European and international reference for sensitive resilience and responsible stewardship in the field of heritage,” underlined the Board of Europa Nostra.

Maryna Hrytsenko (1986-2025) was a most dedicated chief custodian of the Galagan Art Museum in Chernihiv, Ukraine. At the start of the war in 2022, she singlehandedly dismantled the museum’s exhibitions and safeguarded over 17,000 objects. In 2023, she joined the army as a paramedic and was killed in 2025. “Maryna Hrytsenko demonstrated an exceptional and steadfast commitment to preserving and documenting the heritage in Ukraine endangered by war. Through her brave and tireless efforts to save cultural objects under attack, she stands as a symbol of the broader community of Ukrainians who have chosen to mobilise in support of the endangered cultural heritage in Ukraine in times of massive adversity,” highlighted the Board of Europa Nostra.

Completed in 2023, the restoration has allowed the castle and park to reopen to local residents, visitors and specialists, with public events and educational activities taking place on site. This remarkable project raised the largest number of votes, cast via an online poll with the participation of some 10,000 citizens from across Europe.

Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, Executive President of Europa Nostra, stated that “the outstanding projects and people honoured this evening in Nicosia remind us that heritage lies at the heart of Europe’s identity and society". "Coming from 18 countries across the continent, the winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 demonstrate the power of heritage to shape more inclusive, sustainable and resilient communities. We applaud and admire all winners of our Awards, with special emphasis on the laureates of the Grand Prix and the winner of the Public Choice Award. They are an excellent source of inspiration for heritage professionals and volunteers throughout Europe and beyond" he concluded.

The press release says that the European Heritage Awards Ceremony was a highlight of the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026, taking place from 26 to 30 May in the capital city of Cyprus. Under the motto “Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum”, the Summit in Nicosia has underscored the (geo)political, societal and environmental relevance of heritage for Europe and the wider Mediterranean region. The Summit, organised by Europa Nostra with the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia, is co-funded by the European Union and made possible thanks to many partners and supporters, it concludes.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)