The European Commission and Europa Nostra have announced the laureates of the 2025 European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Programme. This year, 30 exceptional winners from 24 countries across Europe have received the continent’s most prestigious heritage awards.
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were established in 2002 by the European Commission and have been managed by Europa Nostra ever since.
These awards recognise and promote outstanding practices in preserving and enhancing both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. They foster cross-border knowledge exchange, raise public awareness of and appreciation for Europe’s cultural heritage, and inspire further excellence by setting exemplary standards.
Each year, the awards celebrate up to 30 exceptional heritage accomplishments, including up to five Grand Prix laureates.

The COST Action Islamic Legacy: Narratives East, West, South, North of the Mediterranean won a prestigious Cultural Heritage Award in the research category.

“We feel truly honoured and very happy about having received this award. It means an incredible recognition of the work done by the Action as well as an impulse to the continuation of the network”, says Dr Antonio Urquizar-Herrera, the Action Chair.

The IS-LE: Islamic Legacy COST Action was launched to fundamentally transform the study and understanding of Islamic heritage in Europe and the Mediterranean. Conducted between 2019 and 2023 under the coordination of UNED in Madrid, Spain, this pan-European research initiative brought together over 200 researchers from 40 countries and more than 80 institutions. Its core objective was to transcend conventional national and disciplinary divides by establishing a stable, interdisciplinary research platform focused on the interconnected histories of the Islamic and Christian worlds during the late medieval and early modern periods (1350–1750).

The influence of the IS-LE network extends far beyond academic circles. Six major publications have reshaped the understanding of Islamic sites and artifacts within European and Mediterranean heritage. Numerous videos and documentaries were produced highlighting the societal impact of the Islamic Legacy in Europe’s history and identity.
The Action also advanced research and documentation efforts at numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Alhambra and the Mosque of Córdoba in Spain, and the Old Bridge of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as within prominent museum collections.

VOTE for the Public Choice Award 2025

Support the Action by voting in the Public Choice Award, which is currently open via this link

The winner will be announced at the European Heritage Awards ceremony on 13 October 2025 at Flagey in Brussels. The Awards ceremony will be live-streamed via www.europanostra.org
The ceremony will take place from 12 to 14 October during the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2025 in Brussels.

Additional Information

View the COST Action website
View the network website
Check the European Commission press release

Europa Nostra is a leading pan-European network dedicated to protecting cultural and natural heritage. It unites heritage NGOs and partners across over 40 countries and works closely with major international organisations like the EU, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO. Europa Nostra helps shape and implement European heritage policies by engaging in dialogue with European institutions and coordinating the European Heritage Alliance.

Creative Europe is the EU’s main programme supporting cultural and creative sectors, including heritage, with a €2.4 billion budget for 2021–2027. It funds organisations and professionals across the arts, media, and publishing to boost their impact on society, the economy, and the environment.