Europa Nostra

 

The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 is taking place from 26 to 30 May in Nicosia. Organised by Europa Nostra in cooperation with the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia, the Summit is under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, and is supported by the European Union. Under the motto “Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum”, the Summit will explore the (geo)political, societal and environmental relevance of heritage for Europe and the wider Mediterranean.

We are most grateful to all partners and supporters of the 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 partner and supporter from the UK, the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council.

Programme Booklet (PDF)

 

Programme

Tuesday 26 May 2026

For all registered participants

18.00 – 20.00 EEST | In Varietate Concordia Talk “Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum” | Photos

This event is organised in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub and has the support of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Venue: Leventis Museum at Hippocratous 15-17, Nicosia

 

Wednesday 27 May 2026

For all registered participants

09.30 – 12.00 EEST  | Visit to the Leventis Gallery and the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia
(Participants will be divided in two groups: group 1 starts the visit at the
Leventis Gallery, group 2 starts the visit at the Leventis Municipal Museum)

09.30 EEST | Assemble at the Leventis Gallery (group 1) or the Leventis Municipal Museum (group 2)

09.45 EEST | Visit to the Leventis Gallery (group 1)
Meeting Point: Leventis Gallery at Anastasios G. Leventis Street 5, Nicosia

09.45  EEST |  Visit of the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia (group 2)
Meeting Point: Leventis Museum at Hippocratous 15-17, Nicosia

For all registered participants

13.30 EEST Registration
14.00 – 19.00 EEST  | European Heritage Excellence Day 2026 | Photos
Presentations by the Winners of the 2026 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards
The Excellence Day Programme Booklet can be read and downloaded here.
This event is organised with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
Venue: THOC Theatre
9 Grigori Afxentiou, Nicosia

For all registered participants

20.00 – 22.00 EEST  | Welcome Reception by the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos | Photos
Venue: Old Town Hall of Nicosia on D’Avila Bastion
Constantinou Palaiologou Ave, Eleftherias Square, Nicosia

Thursday 28 May 2026

For Europa Nostra Members and Associates only

09.00 EEST Registration
09.30 – 12.00 EEST  | Europa Nostra General Assembly 2026 | Photos
Venue: Municipality Council and Events Hall Building B4, Nicosia Municipality Town Hall
Eptanisou 11, Nicosia

For all registered participants

15.00 to 17.00 EEST  | Visit of the Byzantine Museum, Hadjigeorgakis Cornesios Mansion and the old Chrysaliniotissa Church (in the old City)
Meeting Point: Hadjigeorgakis Cornesios Mansion

15.00 to 16.30 EEST  | Visit of the Archaeological Museum
Meeting Point: Mouseiou 1, Nicosia 1097, Nicosia

For all registered participants and invited guests

19.15 EEST Doors open
19.50 EEST All seated

20.00 – 22.00 EEST | European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2026 | Photos
On behalf of the European Commission, Costas Kadis, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, will take part in the European Heritage Awards Ceremony, and Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, will convey a congratulatory video message to the winners. The Ceremony will be attended by H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. 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.
The Ceremony Programme Booklet can be read and downloaded here.
The Ceremony will be followed by a festive reception co-hosted by the European Commission, Europa Nostra and the Deputy Ministry of Culture.
Venue: Nicosia Municipal Theatre
Mikis Theodorakis str. No 6

 

Friday 29 May 2026

For all registered participants

09.30 EEST Registration
10.00 – 12.30 EEST | European Heritage Policy Agora 2026 “Mare Nostrum: Championing Environmental Sustainability through Heritage” | Photos
The Agora Programme Booklet can be read and downloaded here.
This event is organised in the framework of the EU-funded Europa Nostra Heritage Agora project and has the support of the Cultural Protection Fund of the British Council

12.30 – 14.00 EEST  Lunch Break

14.00 – 14.15  EEST Inauguration of the Exhibition “Modern Nicosia” | Photos
Produced by the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia in the framework of the EU-funded European Heritage Hub

14.00 – 18.00 EEST  | European Heritage Hub Forum 2026 “Mare Nostrum: Fostering Peace through Heritage” |Photos
The Hub Forum Programme Booklet can be read and download here.
This event 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

Venue for both events: Central Hall of CYENS Centre of Excellence (former Municipal Market-Agora) – Winner of a European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award 2025
Mayor Lellos Demetriades Square 1, Nicosia

20.00 – 23.00 EEST | Networking Evening (with local food, music and dancing) and inauguration of the Photo Exhibition “Portraits of Women – Beyond the Stones” jointly produced by ALIPH and Europa Nostra | Photos
Venue: Park under Eleftherias Square

Saturday 30 May 2026

Programme organised and hosted by the Turkish Cypriot Members of the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Nicosia

09.30 EEST | Meeting at Ledra Street Crossing
(Note: calculate some 10 minutes for passport/ID controls on both sides of the check point)

10.00 – 12.30 EEST  | Arabahmet Heritage Tour | Photos
Highlighting the heritage of the neighbourhood

13.00 – 14.00 EEST  | Networking Lunch at Bedesten
Hosted by Mr Mehmet Harmancı, Leader of the Turkish Cypriot Community of Nicosia and Supporter of the Nicosia Heritage Hub, in the presence of his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Mr Charalambos Prountzos

14.00 – 15.30 EEST  | Panel Discussion “Shared Heritage, Shared Future” | Photos
Organised by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Architects
The panel features Agni Petridou, Conservation Architect and Town Planner, former Team Leader of the Nicosia Master Plan (NMP); Ali Guralp, Civil Engineer, former Team Leader of the Nicosia Master Plan (NMP); Emine Reis, Conservation Architect, Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH), member of the Advisory Board of the TCCH and Natalie Neophytou, Architect, Project Manager of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage (TCCH)
Moderated by Dr. Özlem Ünsal, Independent Urban Researcher
Venue for both events: Bedesten – Winner of the Europa Nostra Award 2009

16.00 – 17.00 EEST  | Closing event at Bedesten | Photos
Folk concert and dance performances led by HasDer ensembles and youth groups

 

 

Summit visual copyrights: Radoszek Arts / Europa Nostra