Cyprus projects win European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2026 recognition

Nicosia, Cyprus. Two cultural heritage projects from Cyprus have been recognised in the European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards 2026 ahead of the awards ceremony in Nicosia in May.

Cyprus among 2026 award winners

The winning projects are “The Cypriot Violinist” and “Sector 2: Nicosia – The Green Line Programme,” among the highest recognitions for cultural heritage in Europe. This year, 30 winners were selected from 18 countries, out of 261 nominations submitted across 40 European countries.

“The Cypriot Violinist” research and documentation project

“The Cypriot Violinist” is a research and documentation project led by ethnomusicologist Dr Nicoletta Demetriou. It records the life stories of traditional Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot musicians and includes a documentary, a book and a free-access website.

Its aim is to preserve oral histories, local dialects and shared musical traditions as part of a common cultural heritage. The jury praised the project for protecting intangible heritage and giving equal visibility to both communities through personal stories and music.

Green Line programme examines divided capital’s history

The second winner, “Sector 2: Nicosia – The Green Line Programme,” was carried out by the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia and is linked to the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre (NiMAC). The project explores the history of the capital’s divided Green Line through research, exhibitions and public engagement.

Which of the two recognised projects do you want to learn more about?