Winners of the Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Heritage 2026 announced
The Citizens Association of Podbara “Almašani” from Serbia wins the Gold Award
The Volunteer Cultural Association “#agapameDesylla” from Greece wins the Silver Award
The 2026 winners of the Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Heritage were announced today. The Citizens Association of Podbara “Almašani”, an exemplary NGO from Serbia, won the Gold Award for its outstanding work in saving cultural heritage at risk in Serbia. The Jury granted the Silver Award to the Greek Volunteer Cultural Association “#agapameDesylla” for successfully promoting and preserving the endangered cultural and natural heritage of the village of Desylla, Greece. The winners of this year’s Awards were selected on the basis of the 41 applications received from 23 countries across Europe*. The Award Ceremony will take place within the framework of the XI Delphi Economic Forum to be held on 22-25 April.
This year’s Awards honour citizen-led initiatives that demonstrate the powerful role of communities in safeguarding endangered cultural heritage and by doing so, strengthening the vital bonds between people, place and environment. The Jury’s decision reflects the growing recognition of heritage as a living resource for community life and sustainable development, while also paying tribute to Costa Carras, whose lifelong dedication to championing and protecting heritage and nature continues to inspire.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Citizens Association of Podbara ‘Almašani’ for its outstanding civic commitment and perseverance over more than two decades in safeguarding the endangered cultural heritage and fostering community life of the Almaš neighbourhood in Novi Sad, setting a powerful example of heritage-based community development. We also congratulate the citizens’ initiative ‘Agapame Desylla’ for its inspiring mobilisation of volunteers that has revitalised a small village in Messinia, reconnecting people with their local heritage, traditions and landscape through collective care, cultural action and community spirit”, the Jury stated. (for the list of members of the Jury see below)
The Costa Carras European Citizens Awards for the Safeguard of Endangered Heritage were established in 2023 by EUROPA NOSTRA and ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society for the Environment and Cultural Heritage in memory of Costa Carras, an iconic champion of the protection of the environment and cultural heritage in Greece and Europe. The founding partners of the Awards are The A.G. Leventis Foundation, the Delphi Economic Forum and the European Investment Bank Institute. The Gold Award and the Silver Award are generously financed by The A.G. Leventis Foundation.
Gold Award for the Citizens Association of Podbara “Almašani”, Serbia
The Jury of the Awards stated: “The Citizens Association of Podbara “Almašani” is a shining example of civic courage and vision for the protection of endangered cultural heritage. For over 20 years, this grassroots initiative has defended the Almaš historic neighbourhood of Novi Sad from inappropriate urban development, preserving both its tangible and intangible heritage and the quality of life of its community. By preventing a major traffic artery that would have erased the historic character of the neighbourhood, they demonstrated how heritage can unite people around a common purpose. Today, the action of “Almašani” stands as a beacon of sustainable, heritage-based community development. As a member of the Faro Convention Network, it exemplifies the Faro Convention in action — mediating among stakeholders, securing legal protection, and having contributed to Novi Sad’s success as European Capital of Culture. Through workshops, exhibitions, publications, and outreach, it has shared knowledge and inspiration across Serbia, the Western Balkans, and Europe. This enduring commitment has made “Almašani” the largest urban development civil society mobilisation based on cultural heritage in Serbia, a model for communities everywhere, and a source of learning, pride, and inspiration for us all.”
Reacting to the announcement, Marijan Majin, President of Citizens Association of Podbara “Almašani”, stated: “On behalf of the Association “Almašani,” I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Jury for awarding us the Costa Carras 2026 Gold Award. This news has filled us with a profound mixture of disbelief, excitement, gratitude, and pride. Our journey began twenty years ago as a small group of neighbours and enthusiasts, united by a shared commitment to protect what previous generations entrusted to us. What started as a local civic initiative — driven by love, dedication, and passion — has today been recognised and valued at the highest European level. This recognition represents an immense encouragement not only for us, but also for thousands of individuals and organisations across Europe and beyond who strive, through their own efforts, to make their communities better places by preserving and continuously reinterpreting their cultural heritage. We accept this distinction with deep gratitude and renewed responsibility.”
The Association “Almašani” was founded in 2005 as a response to the need of a group of citizens and neighbours to preserve and defend the cultural heritage of their community in Almaški kraj, the oldest part of Novi Sad. Over a journey spanning more than twenty years, following its first major success — preventing the adoption of an urban development plan that would have irreversibly damaged the area’s cultural heritage and identity — the Association continued to attract and inspire a growing number of individuals and like-minded organisations.
By engaging in the project Novi Sad 2021 European Capital of Culture, in 2018 “Almašani” contributed to the transformation of an abandoned silk factory in their neighbourhood into a new community gathering place — the Cultural Station Svilara. They continued their advocacy for permanent heritage protection status, which was successfully granted in 2019. Finally, they played an important role in initiating and implementing one of the largest heritage-based urban regeneration projects in the region— the urban renewal of Almaški kraj in 2022.
Today, the Association “Almašani” is primarily dedicated to sharing and transferring their experience in the struggle to preserve cultural heritage in Serbia which is often endangered by unsuitable development or neglect, striving to inspire and encourage further action in support of heritage by individuals and organisations working in this field as professionals and volunteers.
Silver Award for the “#agapameDesylla” Volunteer Cultural Association, Greece
The Jury of the Awards stated: “‘Agapame Desylla’ is a project that brought new life, voice and visibility into a small village in the region of Messinia, in the Southwest Peloponnese. ‘Agapame Desylla’ is a citizens’ movement, on a totally volunteer basis, that succeeded in mobilising people of all ages and backgrounds around various shared actions, that aim at the protection of local heritage, tangible and intangible, the strengthening of community bonds and their recollection with the history and traditions of the place. Their initiatives are of wide range, comprising the organisation of cultural events, such as gastronomy and oral tradition festivals as well as photographic exhibitions, but also cleaning and enhancing natural and historical landmarks, such as the traditional village paths, springs and the abandoned railway station. Through the complete regeneration of its surroundings, the railway station was transformed again into a space of reference for the local and regional community, closely connected to the efforts of Elliniki Etaireia and other stakeholders for the revitalising and re-functioning of the Peloponese Railway Line. The ‘Agapame Desylla’ project has been awarded with the Costa Carras Silver Award, as it fully corresponds to its spirit and goals.”
Marios Gkrogkos, Founder of the #agapameDesylla group, commented: “The team #agapameDesylla warmly thanks the Jury for the great honour of receiving the Costa Carras Silver Award. This distinction is a meaningful recognition of a grassroots initiative led by volunteers dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the cultural and natural heritage of Desylla, Messinia, Greece. Through cultural activities, environmental actions, local history documentation, and community events, our team works to preserve the memory, identity, and landscape of our village. At the heart of our efforts stands the revival of the historic Desylla railway station, now a symbol of community life, heritage awareness, and collective action.”
The Volunteer Cultural Association “#agapameDesylla” was created by people who deeply care about their village and wish to actively contribute to the preservation and promotion of the endangered cultural and natural heritage of Desylla in Messinia, Greece. Through a journey of collective dedication, the group develops actions that highlight local history, protect the environment and strengthen community participation. A central initiative of the team is the promotion and revival of the historic railway station of the area, alongside cultural events and the recording of oral testimonies from local residents. All activities are carried out on a voluntary basis, supported by the residents and friends of the village. The Costas Carras Silver Award is a meaningful recognition of this collective effort.
The European Jury
The pan-European Awards’ Jury, presided by Ştefan Bâlici, President of the Romanian Order of Architects (Romania), is composed of eminent personalities active in the fields of culture, heritage and communication from various European countries, namely Guy Clausse, Vice-President of Europa Nostra (Luxembourg); Lydia Carras, Founder & President of ELLINIKI ETAIRIA – Society of the Environment and Cultural Heritage & Board Member of Europa Nostra (Greece); Fani Mallouchou-Tufano, Professor – Conservation, Restoration and Management of Architectural Monuments and Sites, at Technical University of Crete (Greece); Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra (The Netherlands/Serbia); and Paolo Vitti, Board member of Europa Nostra, Associate Professor, School of Architecture, University of Notre Dame from Indiana in the USA (Italy).
* Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo**, Latvia, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, The Netherlands, Turkey, and Ukraine.
** This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
