Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2026
The European Travel Commission (ETC) has once again joined forces with the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR) to launch the 2026 edition of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards. Now in its ninth year, the initiative continues to spotlight innovative approaches to sustainable cultural tourism across Europe.
This year’s theme, “Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism”, reflects a growing focus on building destinations that are not only sustainable but also adaptive and forward-looking.
Applications are open to a wide range of stakeholders, including national, regional and local authorities, tourism boards and associations, destination management organisations, museums, interpretation centres, cultural routes, festivals and cultural NGOs. Eligible applicants are invited to present tangible results and achievements in sustainable cultural tourism development.
Candidates may submit their applications under one of the following categories:
- Resilience in sustainable cultural tourism destinations, including natural heritage, green transition, and climate action.
- Creative Tourism and Co-Created Cultural Tourism Experiences.
- Digitalisation in smart tourism cultural heritage and creativity aspects, enhancing visitor experiences.
- 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.
- Active, Slow and Accessible Cultural Tourism – Walking, Cycling and Hiking Tourism around Culture and Heritage.
- Regenerative Cultural Tourism & Heritage Led Destination Regeneration – Regenerative Tourism Synergies with Culture and Heritage.
The winners will be announced during the Awards Ceremony, taking place as part of the 19th International Conference for Cultural Tourism, organised by ECTN from 23 to 26 September 2026 on Skiathos island, in the Thessalia Region of Greece.
Further information on the 2026 Awards is available at this link.
The deadline for applications was 1 June 2026.
The voting for the Public Choice Award is now open, with online voting available across all 19 finalists.
Finalists by Category (in alphabetical order)
Tourism Resilience (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project)
- Specially Protected Cultural Monument the Turaida Museum Reserve
By Turaida Museum Reserve, Latvia - Tara Hategului – Resilient Rural Tourism through Community Stewardship and Heritage Conservation
By Retezat Tourism Association, Hunedoara County, Romania
Creative Tourism and Co-Created Cultural Tourism Experiences (supported by the Creative Tourism Network)
- Cultural Climate Change Starts in the North – Co-Created by the Community
By City of Oulu / BusinessOulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland - Mziskari – A Sustainable Gastronomy Network in Georgia
By LEPL – Georgian National Tourism Administration, Georgia - Reviving Myrsini: Regenerative Village Tourism through Olive Culture
By Peloponnese Region, Greece - Small Fishing Academy Pilchard, Fažana, Istria
By Fažana Tourst Board, Istria, Croatia
Digitalisation in Smart Tourism – enhancing visitor experiences (supported by Europeana, linked to Smart Tour Interreg Europe project)
- Dubrovnik Pass – A Smart Digital Ecosystem for Cultural Heritage and Visitor Experience
By City of Dubrovnik, Croatia - From Heritage Assets to Smart Experiences: Digital Innovation for Year-Round Cultural Tourism at Balaton Uplands
By Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency, Hungary - Lost Spaces documentary VR experience set within the Buffer Zone of the divided city of Nicosia
By CYENS – Centre of Excellence, Nicosia, Cyprus - “Vacanze in salute” – Healthy holidays in the Veneto Region
By Municipality of Jesolo, Veneto Region, Italy
Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage
- Dual Pilgrim – Way of St. James (Spain) and Kumano Kodo (Japan)
By Turismo de Santiago de Compostela, Spain - Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe: Regenerating “Silent Cities” into Gardens of Peace
By European Cemeteries Route, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe - The Smuggle Tour (ŠVERC TURA), an immersive cross-border cultural experience connecting Slovenia and Italy
By Public Tourist Office Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley, Slovenia
Active, Slow and Accessible Cultural Tourism (supported by ENAT and ECF coordinator of the Active Tourism Coalition)
- Camino South Istria (Pula, Medulin, Vodnjan, Fažana, Ližnjan, Marčana)
By South Istria Cluster (Tourist Boards of Pula, Fažana, Medulin, Ližnjan, Marčana, Vodnjan) in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. James – Croatia - Drava Bike: A Sustainable Cycling Journey Through the Cultural Heritage of the Drava River
By Regional Development Agency Podravje – Maribor - Štrekna Cycling Path – From Former Railway to Green Mobility Experience
By Koroška Tourist Board, Slovenia
Regenerative Tourism Synergies with Culture and Heritage
- Ethnographic Food Cultural Experiences in the Central Azorean Islands (Pico, São Jorge & Faial)
By Oh! My Cod Food & Cultural Experiences, Azores Islands – Triangle Island, Portugal - Mazjumprava Cultural Quarter, heritage-led regeneration initiative
By Riga Municipality, Latvia - North Sea Passport, a regenerative tourism initiative connecting visitors with the unique cultural landscape of the Wadden Sea region
By North Sea Tourism Agency, Lower Saxony, Germany
