2026 European Heritage Days: Revive, Resist, Reimagine

The 2026 European Heritage Days will take place from 16th to 18th October in Luxembourg. This year's theme, "Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine", encourages us to consider the many challenges facing cultural heritage today. All over the country, a wide range of activities and events will be held to encourage visitors to discover, protect and promote their shared heritage so that it can continue to thrive and inspire future generations.

European Heritage Days

The European Heritage Days offer an opportunity to visit places that are usually closed to the public. The aims of the initiative include raising greater awareness among European citizens of the continent's vibrant cultural diversity and highlighting its remarkable mosaic of cultures.

The theme of this year's European Heritage Days, "Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine", highlights the importance of protecting, safeguarding and passing on cultural heritage in the face of contemporary challenges. In a world that is being reshaped by climate change, urbanisation, migration, conflict and digital transformation, preserving our shared heritage is more crucial than ever.

Heritage conservation is not just about protecting relics of the past; it is about passing them on to future generations so that they in turn can understand, appreciate and promote this collective legacy. During the European Heritage Days, exhibitions, guided tours, talks and unique experiences are organised to encourage you to explore, share and help transmit this remarkable heritage.

The 2026 programme in Luxembourg

This year's agenda is packed full of events and activities. You can consult the programme on the website, which also contains a brochure listing all the activities in a brief overview.

The programme for 2026 features guided tours, opportunities to discover historical sites and museum collections, participatory workshops, lectures, demonstrations of skills, introductions to heritage trades, innovative projects using state-of-the-art technologies, concerts, and a host of other activities for visitors of all ages.

New events for this year include a "A Possen - Sensory Immersion into Heritage" – a blindfolded visit to the A Possen museum that encourages you to experience heritage through your other senses; and "Titelberg Within Reach" – an interactive experience inviting visitors to delve into one of Luxembourg's most significant archaeological sites. These two original approaches reflect a real enthusiasm for bringing heritage alive with accessible, participatory activities.

Heritage Days in Guttland

The activity organised by the Slate Museum (Musée de l'Ardoise) for the 2026 European Heritage Days showcases a little-known aspect of Luxembourg's industrial heritage. The museum teams will be reconstructing and operating the first internal combustion engine designed by Étienne Lenoir, an inventor born in what was then part of Luxembourg. The remarkable demonstration is a chance to discover both a major technical innovation of the 19th century and the conservation efforts made to preserve this industrial heritage.

This activity illustrates the wealth of cultural heritage in Guttland, a region brimming with history, expertise and innovation that we are encouraging you to visit this autumn.

Don't miss this opportunity to explore Luxembourg's heritage with local experts just a short distance from your doorstep!