Ethnological Museum of Thrace receives European Academy honors

Two Greek museums have received honors from the European Museum Academy at an awards ceremony held in Alicante, Spain. The National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) was awarded the European Art Museum Award 2026.

Additionally, Angeliki Giannakidou, the founder and president of the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, received the Lifetime Achievement award. The Ethnological Museum of Thrace, which operates out of a historic 1899 neoclassical building in Alexandroupoli, was previously recognized in 2025 with a Special Distinction at the DASA Awards for its innovative approach to museum education.

Greek Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni praised Giannakidou’s four decades of dedication to preserving and promoting the history and traditions of the Thrace region. The museum is a self-funded non-profit organization focused on the culture of Thrace from the 17th to the 20th century through ethnographic materials, personal testimonies, and multicultural activities.