The long-term restoration of the Polirone Monastic Complex of San Benedetto Po stabilised earthquake damage, conserved historic fabric, and reactivated the site with new cultural and civic functions.

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The Cypriot Fiddler research project documents the life stories of traditional Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians. Through long-term fieldwork, a documentary, a book and an open-access website, it preserves oral storytelling, local dialects and a shared musical heritage.

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The Office of Public Works in Ireland developed practical guidance and a technical training programme to help public authorities improve the energy performance of historic buildings without compromising their heritage value. It strengthens professional skills and proves that climate action and heritage conservation can be complimentary.

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Din l-Art Ħelwa has protected the Malta’s cultural and natural heritage since 1965 through restoration, advocacy, and public engagement. The volunteer-driven organisation manages historic sites and plays a leading role in heritage protection across the Maltese Islands.

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Maryna Hrytsenko (1986-2025) was chief custodian of the Galagan Art Museum in Chernihiv. At the start of the war in 2022, she singlehandedly dismantled the Museum’s exhibitions and safeguarded over 17 000 objects in underground storage. In 2023, she joined the army as a paramedic and was killed in 2025 evacuating wounded soldiers.

Find out more about Maryna Hrytsenko

The winner of the Public Choice Award 2026 is the restoration project of Bánffy Castle, Răscruci, in Romania. Completed in 2023. The restoration has allowed the castle and park to reopen to local residents, visitors and specialists — with public events and educational activities taking place on site. This remarkable project raised the largest number of votes, cast via an online poll with the participation of some10 000 citizens from across Europe.

Find out more about the Bánffy Castle, Răscruci