Simone Veil Prize: first call for entries published
Apply before 31 July 2026 to participate.
The Simone Veil Prize published its first call for entries on 18 May 2026. The prize highlights how cultural heritage and places of memory can enable civic participation, education and democratic engagement, reflecting the important contribution of Jewish cultural heritage to Europe’s shared history.
The application period is open until 31 July 2026.
Winners will be presented with awards in a ceremony in Brussels at the end of this year.
What the Simone Veil Prize is
The prize promotes heritage as a positive, forward-looking force for respectful coexistence in European society. It reflects the European Union’s commitment to safeguarding cultural diversity, countering discrimination and antisemitism, and promoting shared historical perspectives.
It honours Simone Veil, French Holocaust survivor, who dedicated her life to reconciliation, passionately promoting human rights and European unity. As the first president of the European Parliament, she campaigned against antisemitism and fought for a unified Europe of shared ideals, making her a powerful symbol of the values the prize seeks to celebrate.
In her speech at the Euro-Chanukah 2025 celebration, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said:
I made a promise that we would establish a prize to celebrate Jewish cultural heritage and its central role in shaping European identity. Tonight, I am glad to say that in 2026, we will announce the first winner of the Simone Veil Prize for European Jewish Cultural Heritage. It was Veil herself who said: ‘Le judaïsme a pris plus de place pour les valeurs qu'il m'a apportées, ces valeurs de tolérance, de liberté d'esprit, de démocratie.' Tolerance, freedom of mind, and democracy. These are Jewish values. These are European values. And we will continue working to ensure they shape our public life.
How the prize is set up
The Simone Veil Prize is awarded once per year and will recognise up to 25 finalists and five Grand Prix winners in each category. Each of the five winners will receive €10 000.
The prize will recognise local and cross-border projects completed between January 2023 and January 2026 in five award categories.
Shared histories
Recognising initiatives that help deepen public understanding of Europe’s interconnected history, showing how Jewish heritage contributes to the continent’s broader cultural landscape.
Heritage for dialogue
Recognising initiatives that use cultural heritage as a tool for intercultural dialogue, strengthening social cohesion across faiths, cultures, and generations, and countering discrimination and intolerance.
Living Heritage
Celebrating projects that engage communities in keeping Jewish heritage alive, relevant and open to the needs of the contemporary European society.
Cross-border cooperation and shared narratives
Recognising joint initiatives that advance a transnational understanding of European heritage, foregrounding the interconnections created through mobility, exchange, and cultural interaction.
Next generation, youth engagement and education
Supporting projects that get educators, students, and young people involved in shaping the future of European memory and heritage.
Timeline of the Simone Veil prize’s first edition
- 31 July 2026 (23:59 CET): Application deadline
- October 2026: Announcement of up to 25 finalists
- December 2026: Award ceremony and announcement of the five Grand Prix winners
Who should apply
Applications can be submitted by legal or natural persons registered in countries participating in the Culture Strand of the Creative Europe programme (EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme.)
How to apply
Applicants are invited to submit a filled in application form which can be downloaded on the Simone Veil Prize website.
Entries must be submitted via email to applications [at] simoneveilprize.eu.
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