Winners of the Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards 2026 revealed

The ‘Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism’ Awards aim to enhance the visibility of European cultural tourism destinations, provide a platform for sharing experiences and knowledge, and foster networking among destinations. For the ninth consecutive year, the European Travel Commission (ETC), the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra, and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR) have jointly organised these awards to promote best practices in sustainable cultural tourism.

This year’s edition, focusing on “Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism”,  was supported by the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), Europeana and the Creative Tourism Network. The contest was open to destinations across Europe to showcase their achievements and contributions in sustainable cultural tourism across six categories.

The 2026 Awards received a total of 72 entries. The winners and runners-up were selected by an expert jury, composed of representatives from ETC, Europa Nostra, NECSTouR, ENAT, ECF, Europeana, the Creative Tourism Network, and INSPIRES.

The winners were announced at an Awards ceremony held in Skiathos on 24 September 2026. See the full list below.

Jury vote – winners per category:

Tourism Resilience (linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project)

• 1^st prize:

Specially Protected Cultural Monument the Turaida Museum Reserve ​(linked to the INSPIRES SMP-COSME project)
By Turaida Museum Reserve, Latvia

• 2^nd prize:

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)

• 1^st prize:

Mziskari – A Sustainable Gastronomy Network in Georgia
By LEPL – Georgian National Tourism Administration, Georgia

• 2^nd prize:

Cultural Climate Change Starts in the North – Co-Created by the Community
By City of Oulu / BusinessOulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland

• 3^rd prize:

Small Fishing Academy Pilchard, Fažana, Istria
By Fažana Tourst Board, Istria, Croatia

• Special mention:

Reviving Myrsini: Regenerative Village Tourism through Olive Culture
By Peloponnese Region, Greece

Digitalisation in Smart Tourism – enhancing visitor experiences (supported by Europeana, linked to Smart Tour Interreg Europe project)

• 1^st prize:

Dubrovnik Pass – A Smart Digital Ecosystem for Cultural Heritage and Visitor Experience
By City of Dubrovnik, Croatia

• 2^nd prize:

Lost Spaces documentary VR experience set within the Buffer Zone of the divided city of Nicosia
By CYENS – Centre of Excellence, Nicosia, Cyprus

• 3^rd prize:

From Heritage Assets to Smart Experiences: Digital Innovation for Year-Round Cultural Tourism at Balaton Uplands
By Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency, Hungary

• Special mention:

“Vacanze in salute” – Healthy holidays in the Veneto Region
By Municipality of Jesolo, Veneto Region, Italy

Transnational Thematic Tourism products involving Culture and Heritage (supported by the European Travel Commission)

• 1^st prize:

Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe: Regenerating “Silent Cities” into Gardens of Peace
By European Cemeteries Route, Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

• 2^nd prize:

Dual Pilgrim – Way of St. James (Spain) and Kumano Kodo (Japan)
By Turismo de Santiago de Compostela, Spain

• 3^rd prize:

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)

• 1^st prize:

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

• 2^nd prize:

Štrekna Cycling Path – From Former Railway to Green Mobility Experience
By Koroška Tourist Board, Slovenia

• 3^rd prize:

Drava Bike: A Sustainable Cycling Journey Through the Cultural Heritage of the Drava River
By Regional Development Agency Podravje – Maribor

Regenerative Tourism Synergies with Culture and Heritage

• 1^st prize:

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

• 2^nd prize:

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

• 3^rd prize:

Mazjumprava Cultural Quarter, heritage-led regeneration initiative
By Riga Municipality, Latvia