Overview

The last week of May in Nicosia, Europe's last divided capital, the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 brought together policymakers, researchers, heritage practitioners, and cultural institutions from across Europe and the Mediterranean. The summit's theme, Heritage as the Soul of Mare Nostrum, placed cultural and natural heritage at the heart of a shared Mediterranean vision.

The SD-WISHEES delegate participated in the full 5-day programme, including the Excellence Day, high-level talks, traditional music events, cultural moments, museum visits, and a photo exhibition focused on the role of heritage in bridging Europe, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Hosted at CYENS, Centre of Excellence in the heart of Nicosia, the European Heritage Policy Agora explored the theme "Mare Nostrum: Championing Environmental Sustainability through Heritage". The Agora examined how cultural heritage can actively contribute to climate action and sustainable development across the Mediterranean, a space increasingly shaped by environmental, social, and geopolitical pressures.

Discussions during panel sessions, focused on advocacy ahead of COP31 and best practices from across the region, explored how cultural heritage can inform climate policy, support communities' resilience, and promote inclusive development. The Mediterranean was reaffirmed as a shared space of responsibility, where heritage acts as a living resource for sustainability and cooperation.

In the park at the centre of Nicosia, representatives from Europa Nostra and ALIPH inaugurated the outdoor photo exhibition "Portraits of Women: Beyond the Stones". The exhibition celebrates women, both professionals and volunteers, who stand on the frontlines of safeguarding cultural heritage threatened by climate change and conflict. These women preserve not only monuments and sites, but our shared memories and identities.