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Awards 2026 Edition Overall Theme:
"Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe :
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"
"Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe :
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"
in partnership with:
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Supported by:
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and in the framework of:
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The only European Cultural Tourism Awards since 2014, in the 13th edition Awards Ceremony: 24 September 2026 at Skiathos, Greece |
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About the Awards
Cultural tourism is the fastest growing sector of European tourism and can contribute both to the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism in the European Union and beyond, as well as to the sustainable future of cultural assets, heritage sites and local communities.
Cultural Tourism products and services are important factors in sustainable development, contributing to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, the extension of the tourism period, as well as increasing culture and heritage awareness among tourists and host communities, regional GDP and its multiplier effects.
These Awards enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, create a platform for sharing experience and knowledge and promotes networking between destinations. The Awards Contest is open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their results and outputs in sustainable cultural tourism under several selected categories each year.
The Awards have been organised since 2014 by ECTN around annual themes, for the benefit of destinations, communities, associations, businesses, citizens and visitors.
The 2026 edition of the Awards for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ is organised by ECTN in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, supported by Europeana and in the framework of the INSPIRES SMP project. It follows on from the 2018 edition of the Awards which was held as a contribution to the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ (EYCH2018) and the 2019-2025 editions, by a similar partnership that aims to contribute to the legacy of EYCH2018 through relevant EU initiatives.
Call for Entries
The 2026 overall theme is:
"Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe:
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"
The Awards will be given for achievements by cultural tourist destinations which have produced significant results related to enhancing visitor experience while respecting traditions and involving local host communities.
The 2026 Awards address the following tangible and intangible heritage-related aspects of resilient, smart and sustainable cultural tourism development and promotion:
1. Resilience in Sustainable Cultural Tourism (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project), including natural heritage, green transition, and climate action.
Awarding entries that demonstrate “Resilient Tourism”, viz:
2. Creative Tourism and Co-Created Cultural Tourism Experiences. Supported by the Creative Tourism Network.
Awarding Creative Cultural Tourism initiatives that foster co-creation, skills exchange, and authentic local community engagement.
This category recognises destinations and initiatives that develop creative tourism experiences through active participation, learning, and co-creation between visitors and local communities. It highlights tourism that enables travellers to develop their creative potential while engaging meaningfully with the living culture of a place.
Awarding entries may include:
3. Digitalisation in Smart Tourism - Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences (linked to the ‘Smart Tour’ Interreg Europe project). Supported by Europeana.
Awarding innovative digital approaches for smart tourism:
4. Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage, including European Cultural Routes and European Heritage Label networks, cross-border and multi-destination tourism initiatives involving at least 2 countries.
Awarding cross-border and multi-destination travel initiatives promoting shared heritage and authentic visitor experiences:
5. Active, Slow and Accessible Cultural Tourism - Walking, Cycling and Hiking Tourism around Culture and Heritage. Supported by ENAT.
Awarding initiatives that promote low-impact, human-scale cultural tourism through active mobility and inclusive access.
This category recognises destinations and projects that integrate walking, cycling, hiking and other forms of active tourism into cultural and heritage experiences, enabling visitors to explore places at a human pace while fostering strong connections to landscapes, communities, and local culture.
Awarding entries that may include:
6. Regenerative Cultural Tourism & Heritage Led Destination Regeneration - Regenerative Tourism Synergies with Culture and Heritage.
Awarding initiatives that actively restore, regenerate and strengthen cultural, social and ecological systems through tourism.
This category recognises destinations and initiatives that apply regenerative tourism principles to cultural tourism, going beyond sustainability to ensure that tourism leaves places healthier, more resilient, and culturally richer than before.
Awarding entries include:
The applicants must address one of the above themes and present projects, initiatives or activities that have been completed during the past 3 years. Award winners will be recognised as examples of excellence inspiring other tourist destinations and stimulating further development of resilient, smart and sustainable cultural tourism initiatives.
Award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony to be held during the 19th International Conference for Cultural Tourism on the theme of ""Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"‘’, organised by ECTN on 23-26 September 2026 on Skiathos island, Thessalia Region, Greece.
The selected finalists will be invited to the ECTN Conference 2026 and to the Awards Ceremony on 24 September. The organiser and partners will not reimburse any costs for attending the Awards Ceremony, but the conference fee will be waived for up to two persons per finalist.
Who can apply?
The ECTN Awards are open to all tourist destinations across Europe, national, regional and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, museums, heritage sites, interpretation centres, cultural routes, festivals and cultural NGOs.
Application, Declaration & deadline
Applications must be submitted online at the dedicated platform:
https://culturaltourism.awardstage.com
Applicants need to register and fill-in the application form online. Detailed instructions on how to fill in the application form are provided online.
Please fill in all sections of the application form in English (applications in other languages will not be considered). Please download, sign the Declaration, scan and/or add a digital signature and upload the signed Declaration at the end of the application form online.
No paper version of the application is needed – electronic submission only!
Application forms without the accompanying signed Declaration or with any incomplete fields will not be eligible.
Applications must be submitted by 15th May 2026 .
By submitting the application, applicants authorise the publishing of their data on the organiser, partners’ and supporters' websites:
www.culturaltourism-network.eu
www.europanostra.org
www.etc-corporate.org
www.necstour.eu
www.accessibletourism.org
www.europeana.eu
www.creativetourismnetwork.org
www.skiathos.gr
www.inspires-tourism.eu
Material submitted may be published by the organisers, partners and/or supporters with due acknowledgement to the applicant.
Awards Jury
The Awards Jury will be composed of experts from several European countries, appointed by ECTN, Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission, NECSTouR, Creative Tourism Network (for category 2), Europeana Foundation (for category 3), ENAT (for category 5) and INSPIRES SMP Project coordination (for category 1).
The Jury’s decision shall be final. The Jury will not accept requests for additional information or justification of their decision once the awardees have been selected.
Awards Criteria
The Awards Jury will assess the quality of applications according to the following six criteria of equal importance:
Candidates should specify how their application meets the above criteria.
Concluding Remarks
This is a non-profit initiative. Therefore, the Awards do not consist of any type of monetary prize and does not aim to give any type of economic advantage to the applicants and winners. No financial or contractual obligations will arise neither for ECTN, nor for the partner organisations (Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR), nor the supporting organisations (Europeana Foundation, ENAT, Creative Tourism Network, INSPIRES SMP Project partnership).
The Awards organiser, partners and supporters or their members, employees or contractors, shall not be responsible nor liable in negligence or otherwise howsoever in respect of any inaccuracy or omission in the Awards procedure. They shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage caused by or arising from any information or inaccuracy or omission herein. They also shall not be liable for any use of the information concerning the Awards.
Cultural tourism is the fastest growing sector of European tourism and can contribute both to the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism in the European Union and beyond, as well as to the sustainable future of cultural assets, heritage sites and local communities.
Cultural Tourism products and services are important factors in sustainable development, contributing to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage, the extension of the tourism period, as well as increasing culture and heritage awareness among tourists and host communities, regional GDP and its multiplier effects.
These Awards enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, create a platform for sharing experience and knowledge and promotes networking between destinations. The Awards Contest is open to tourist destinations across Europe, to showcase their results and outputs in sustainable cultural tourism under several selected categories each year.
The Awards have been organised since 2014 by ECTN around annual themes, for the benefit of destinations, communities, associations, businesses, citizens and visitors.
The 2026 edition of the Awards for ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ is organised by ECTN in partnership with Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR, supported by Europeana and in the framework of the INSPIRES SMP project. It follows on from the 2018 edition of the Awards which was held as a contribution to the ‘European Year of Cultural Heritage’ (EYCH2018) and the 2019-2025 editions, by a similar partnership that aims to contribute to the legacy of EYCH2018 through relevant EU initiatives.
Call for Entries
The 2026 overall theme is:
"Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe:
Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"
The Awards will be given for achievements by cultural tourist destinations which have produced significant results related to enhancing visitor experience while respecting traditions and involving local host communities.
The 2026 Awards address the following tangible and intangible heritage-related aspects of resilient, smart and sustainable cultural tourism development and promotion:
1. Resilience in Sustainable Cultural Tourism (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project), including natural heritage, green transition, and climate action.
Awarding entries that demonstrate “Resilient Tourism”, viz:
- Honouring initiatives that have demonstrated exceptional resilience in safeguarding cultural heritage during times of crisis, including disasters, economic downturns, and global pandemics. Such projects may include adaptive responses like virtual heritage tours during lockdowns, innovative restoration efforts in the aftermath of disasters, or the rapid reimagining of tourism experiences to protect both visitors and heritage sites.
- Special recognition will be given to projects that focus on preparedness and climate adaptation strategies, ensuring that cultural and natural heritage remains protected from the increasingly severe impacts of climate change. Initiatives that implement green transition and sustainable tourism practices, such as the use of eco-friendly materials in site restoration or strategies to mitigate the environmental impacts of tourism, will be celebrated for their forward-thinking approach.
- Efforts to manage visitor flow and reduce the pressures of overtourism. Entries that focus on redistributing tourist activity to lesser-known, yet culturally significant, destinations are encouraged. By promoting these initiatives, not only alleviate overcrowding at major tourist sites but also support the economic development of smaller communities.
- Fostering collaboration among Tourism SMEs to develop digital and green transition solutions, with resilience. Tourism resilience refers to dealing with crises for maintaining stability while ensuring flexibility and diversity for innovation and further development.
2. Creative Tourism and Co-Created Cultural Tourism Experiences. Supported by the Creative Tourism Network.
Awarding Creative Cultural Tourism initiatives that foster co-creation, skills exchange, and authentic local community engagement.
This category recognises destinations and initiatives that develop creative tourism experiences through active participation, learning, and co-creation between visitors and local communities. It highlights tourism that enables travellers to develop their creative potential while engaging meaningfully with the living culture of a place.
Awarding entries may include:
- Initiatives that involve Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)—such as craftsmanship, artists, designers, musicians, performers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs—in the design and delivery of tourism-oriented products and services.
- Co-created experiences rooted in local identity, including handicrafts, fine arts, music, festivals, storytelling, design, gastronomy, and contemporary creative practices, where visitors actively participate and create.
- Projects that strengthen local creative ecosystems, support creative professionals and SMEs, and contribute to the economic and social vitality of host communities.
- Tourism models that promote authenticity, cultural transmission, and intergenerational knowledge exchange, ensuring respect for cultural heritage while encouraging innovation.
- Creative tourism as a tool for destination resilience and diversification, reducing dependency on mass tourism and fostering year-round cultural engagement.
3. Digitalisation in Smart Tourism - Cultural Heritage and Creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences (linked to the ‘Smart Tour’ Interreg Europe project). Supported by Europeana.
Awarding innovative digital approaches for smart tourism:
- This category recognises initiatives that use digital tools —such as virtual reality (VR), mobile apps, and interactive exhibits— to enhance the global experience of cultural heritage. Award-winning projects will provide immersive virtual tours of UNESCO, national, or local heritage sites, including European Heritage Label sites, and digital archives that preserve endangered traditions and narratives.
- Special recognition will be given to projects that use digital platforms to encourage sustainable cultural tourism, providing tourists with real-time data on eco-friendly travel options and personalised cultural recommendations that can help mitigate environmental impact while enhancing the visitor experience.
- Digitalisation aspects of Smart Tourism (digital services to travellers) and Smart Destinations (digital infrastructure and networks) to be included in relevant policies and strategies for enhancing visitor experiences.
4. Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage, including European Cultural Routes and European Heritage Label networks, cross-border and multi-destination tourism initiatives involving at least 2 countries.
Awarding cross-border and multi-destination travel initiatives promoting shared heritage and authentic visitor experiences:
- Projects that create interconnected cultural travel routes across multiple countries, showcasing shared cultural heritage (such as ancient trade routes or architectural styles), will be awarded. These routes should encourage the use of sustainable transport options (e.g., electric trains, ferries), allowing tourists to explore multiple destinations with minimal environmental impact. Slow travel options will also be welcome.
- Recognition will also be given to projects that foster collaboration between neighbouring countries, regions and communities, to organise joint cultural events, festivals, or heritage preservation projects. Initiatives that highlight cross-border heritage and enhance cultural exchange will be celebrated for their role in strengthening regional ties and promoting mutual understanding.
5. Active, Slow and Accessible Cultural Tourism - Walking, Cycling and Hiking Tourism around Culture and Heritage. Supported by ENAT.
Awarding initiatives that promote low-impact, human-scale cultural tourism through active mobility and inclusive access.
This category recognises destinations and projects that integrate walking, cycling, hiking and other forms of active tourism into cultural and heritage experiences, enabling visitors to explore places at a human pace while fostering strong connections to landscapes, communities, and local culture.
Awarding entries that may include:
- Development of cultural and heritage routes, trails and itineraries accessible by walking, cycling or other active modes, linking museums, heritage sites, cultural landscapes and creative hubs.
- Integration of active mobility within sustainable tourism transport systems, including multimodal connections with rail, bus and last-mile solutions to cultural destinations.
- Initiatives that ensure universal accessibility and inclusivity, through universally designed infrastructure, clear and accessible information, and the use of assistive or adaptive technologies where appropriate.
- Projects that enable participation across generations and socio-economic groups, including youth, families, seniors, persons with disabilities and economically disadvantaged visitors, through adapted services and targeted programmes.
- Demonstrated contribution to low-carbon tourism, tourists flow management, well-being and community benefit, reinforcing the social value of slow and active cultural tourism.
6. Regenerative Cultural Tourism & Heritage Led Destination Regeneration - Regenerative Tourism Synergies with Culture and Heritage.
Awarding initiatives that actively restore, regenerate and strengthen cultural, social and ecological systems through tourism.
This category recognises destinations and initiatives that apply regenerative tourism principles to cultural tourism, going beyond sustainability to ensure that tourism leaves places healthier, more resilient, and culturally richer than before.
Awarding entries include:
- Projects that integrate culture and heritage as drivers of regeneration, linking heritage conservation, cultural practices and creative expression with ecological restoration and community well-being.
- Initiatives where visitors act as active contributors and co-creators, participating in cultural, environmental or social regeneration activities that generate meaningful and transformative experiences.
- Demonstrated commitment to sustainable cultural tourism practices, including reducing carbon footprint, waste and energy consumption, increasing the use of renewable resources, and supporting circular economy approaches.
- Strong community involvement and local governance, ensuring that tourism supports local livelihoods, cultural continuity and long-term socio-economic resilience.
- Innovative models that combine cultural participation, environmental stewardship and economic innovation, positioning tourism as a force for positive, long-term place-based change.
The applicants must address one of the above themes and present projects, initiatives or activities that have been completed during the past 3 years. Award winners will be recognised as examples of excellence inspiring other tourist destinations and stimulating further development of resilient, smart and sustainable cultural tourism initiatives.
Award winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony to be held during the 19th International Conference for Cultural Tourism on the theme of ""Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism"‘’, organised by ECTN on 23-26 September 2026 on Skiathos island, Thessalia Region, Greece.
The selected finalists will be invited to the ECTN Conference 2026 and to the Awards Ceremony on 24 September. The organiser and partners will not reimburse any costs for attending the Awards Ceremony, but the conference fee will be waived for up to two persons per finalist.
Who can apply?
The ECTN Awards are open to all tourist destinations across Europe, national, regional and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, museums, heritage sites, interpretation centres, cultural routes, festivals and cultural NGOs.
Application, Declaration & deadline
Applications must be submitted online at the dedicated platform:
https://culturaltourism.awardstage.com
Applicants need to register and fill-in the application form online. Detailed instructions on how to fill in the application form are provided online.
Please fill in all sections of the application form in English (applications in other languages will not be considered). Please download, sign the Declaration, scan and/or add a digital signature and upload the signed Declaration at the end of the application form online.
No paper version of the application is needed – electronic submission only!
Application forms without the accompanying signed Declaration or with any incomplete fields will not be eligible.
Applications must be submitted by 15th May 2026 .
By submitting the application, applicants authorise the publishing of their data on the organiser, partners’ and supporters' websites:
www.culturaltourism-network.eu
www.europanostra.org
www.etc-corporate.org
www.necstour.eu
www.accessibletourism.org
www.europeana.eu
www.creativetourismnetwork.org
www.skiathos.gr
www.inspires-tourism.eu
Material submitted may be published by the organisers, partners and/or supporters with due acknowledgement to the applicant.
Awards Jury
The Awards Jury will be composed of experts from several European countries, appointed by ECTN, Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission, NECSTouR, Creative Tourism Network (for category 2), Europeana Foundation (for category 3), ENAT (for category 5) and INSPIRES SMP Project coordination (for category 1).
The Jury’s decision shall be final. The Jury will not accept requests for additional information or justification of their decision once the awardees have been selected.
Awards Criteria
The Awards Jury will assess the quality of applications according to the following six criteria of equal importance:
- Relevance to the selected category and content quality.
- Evidence of success – Results achieved (measurable outputs, e.g. number of visitors increase in the off-peak and shoulder seasons, visitors’ satisfaction, increase in the average spend of visitors, benefits to local economy, contribution to employment generation, capacity building, outstanding publicity).
- Tourism Sustainability – Sustainable Development of Tourism: Economic, Social, Environmental, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the EU Transition Pathway for Tourism, including any synergies with the EU Green Deal and Climate Action (SDG 13).
- Ability to attract visitors (including from outside Europe) to lesser-known destinations.
- Innovative character, techniques or tools created and/or applied.
- Involvement of the local host community.
Candidates should specify how their application meets the above criteria.
Concluding Remarks
This is a non-profit initiative. Therefore, the Awards do not consist of any type of monetary prize and does not aim to give any type of economic advantage to the applicants and winners. No financial or contractual obligations will arise neither for ECTN, nor for the partner organisations (Europa Nostra, the European Travel Commission and NECSTouR), nor the supporting organisations (Europeana Foundation, ENAT, Creative Tourism Network, INSPIRES SMP Project partnership).
The Awards organiser, partners and supporters or their members, employees or contractors, shall not be responsible nor liable in negligence or otherwise howsoever in respect of any inaccuracy or omission in the Awards procedure. They shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage caused by or arising from any information or inaccuracy or omission herein. They also shall not be liable for any use of the information concerning the Awards.
Find out more about ECTN Awards 2026, award criteria, partners, how to submit application form and other useful information on:
