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25 March 2026

Apply Now for the 2026 Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards

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15/05/202615May2026

Calling all innovators in cultural tourism! The 2026 Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards are open for applications, inviting exceptional contributions to Europe's tourism renaissance.

15/05/2026 Online event Add to calendar Content source Tap to view more details Publishing org

European Travel Commission

Related Organisation(s)

European Travel Commission

Topics Geographical descriptors

Albania

Armenia

Austria

Belgium

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

EU-27

Finland

France

Georgia

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Kosovo

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Moldova

Montenegro

Netherlands

North Macedonia

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Türkiye

Ukraine

Other

Organisation Type

Company with 250 or more employees

Cultural and Heritage Organisations

Destination Management & Marketing Organisations

Local Authorities

National authorities

NGOs / Non-profits

Regional Authorities

SMEs (a company with less than 250 employees)

• Specific types of tourism

• • Cultural tourism

• Transition Pathway Strategic Areas

• • Governance of tourism destinations

• Business activities

• • Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism

  • Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities

  • Museums

  • Operation of historical sites

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The European Travel Commission (ETC), in collaboration with prominent organizations including the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra, and NECSTouR, has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Destination of Sustainable Cultural Tourism Awards. This esteemed initiative, now in its ninth year, is designed to showcase groundbreaking efforts in sustainable cultural tourism throughout Europe.

With this year's theme, "Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Culture Compass for Europe: Synergies for Regenerative, Smart and Resilient Cultural Tourism," the focus is on creating destinations that are sustainable, adaptive, and visionary. Applications are welcomed from a diverse array of stakeholders, such as national and regional authorities, tourism boards, museums, cultural NGOs, and more. Participants are encouraged to demonstrate tangible accomplishments within six specialized categories, ranging from resilience in cultural tourism destinations to digitalisation enhancing visitor experiences.

Winners will be celebrated at the Awards Ceremony during the 19th International Conference for Cultural Tourism, held from September 23 to 26, 2026, on Skiathos island in Greece's Thessalia Region. The deadline for applications is May 15, 2026. Discover more about the awards and application detailshere.

By championing innovative solutions and fostering collaboration, this initiative signifies a pivotal step towards redefining European cultural tourism for resilience and regeneration.

#Destination management #Cultural preservation #Sustainable destinations #Smart destinations #Resilience planning 

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