European Heritage Days 2026 to feature photography and endangered heritage themes

The 43rd edition of the European Heritage Days is scheduled for September 18–20, 2026. This year’s national themes focus on “photography heritage” and “heritage in peril: revive, resist, reimagine.”

Across various regions, institutions are opening their doors for special events. In France, the Ministry of Justice will host visitors at the Hôtel de Bourvallais in Paris, featuring a “Village of Trades” dedicated to prison administration. Other French locations include the Atelier-Musée de l’Imprimerie, the Château Clément in Vals-les-Bains, and various sites in the Seine Normandie Agglomération and the Pyrénées region.

In Switzerland, the canton is implementing a 100-million-franc plan to renovate eight buildings by 2040, while local heritage sites in Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds offer guided tours. In French Polynesia, the University of French Polynesia’s library will host guided tours focusing on the Polynesian Collection to promote the preservation of cultural memory.