European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025

The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025 will take place from 12–15 October in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, EU representatives, heritage professionals, volunteers, and civil society actors from across Europe and beyond.

About the event

The European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025 will be hosted in Brussels from 12 to 15 October. Organised by Europa Nostra with the support of the European Union, the event will bring together EU representatives, policymakers, heritage experts, volunteers, civil society organisations and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond.

The choice of Brussels as the host city is especially meaningful, coinciding with the upcoming release of the European Commission’s first “Culture Compass for Europe” and the ongoing debates on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework. Reflecting these developments, the Summit will be held under the motto “Heritage Matters for Europe”.

With a focus on Europe’s core values — peace, democracy and solidarity — the Brussels Summit will underscore the political, social, economic and environmental importance of cultural heritage for shaping the future of Europe and its citizens.

Programme Highlights

🗓 12 October – European Heritage Excellence Day

📍 Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium | 13:30 – 19:00

The Summit begins by celebrating the very best in heritage practice. Thirty winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2025, from 24 countries, will share their remarkable projects and stories — showcasing how cultural heritage contributes to a more beautiful, cohesive, sustainable, and democratic Europe.

🗓 13 October – Europa Nostra General Assembly & Awards Ceremony

📍 KBR – Royal Library of Belgium | 09:30 – 12:00

For Europa Nostra Members and Associates, the General Assembly will include (re-)appointments to the Council and statutory decisions such as the approval of the 2024 Annual Report.

📍 House of European History Visit | 14:30 – 15:30

📍 Flagey, Maison de la Radio | 20:00 – 22:00 (Doors open 19:15)

The European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2025 will honour this year’s laureates in a prestigious event co-hosted by Commissioner Glenn Micallef and Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger. The evening will unveil the Grand Prix and Public Choice Award winners (each receiving €10,000). The ceremony will be livestreamed and followed by a festive reception in the iconic Art Deco setting of Flagey.

🗓 Tuesday, 14 October – European Heritage Hub Forum

📍 Brussels Town Hall, Grand Place | 10:30 – 18:00

Under the theme “Heritage Matters for Europe’s Cities and Citizens”, this high-level forum will bring together EU Institutions, local authorities, civil society, and heritage experts. Discussions will focus on how the forthcoming Culture Compass for Europe and the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) can better support community-rooted heritage, cultural rights, and democratic participation.

As one of the Summit’s flagship events, the Hub Forum offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of heritage policy across all levels of governance.

🗓 Wednesday, 15 October – European Heritage Policy Agora

📍 Zweig Visitor Centre, European Parliament | 09:00 – 13:30

This final day will spotlight Europe’s shared cultural roots and values under the theme “The Europeans: Shared Cultural Roots and Values”.

Highlights include:

A Europa Nostra Annual Lecture by renowned historian Orlando Figes.
A dialogue with Members of the European Parliament.
A screening of the documentary “Une saga de l’Europe culturelle, au cœur du XIXe siècle”.

Organised with the European Parliament and supported by the EU-funded Agora project, this event will show how culture and history remain vital for European identity and for strengthening unity across borders and generations.