Support for the implementation of the European Heritage Label

The grant opportunity titled "Support for the implementation of the European Heritage Label" (CREA-CULT-2026-EU-HERITAGE-LABEL) is part of the Creative Europe Programme, aiming to enhance the European Heritage Label (EHL) network. The funding type is a CREA Lump Sum Grant with a total budget of €3 million available for one selected project over the 2026-2029 period. The call is open to both single organizations and consortia engaged in cultural heritage management or capacity building, particularly those active in the creative and cultural sectors.

Eligible applicants should possess expertise in cultural heritage management, project coordination, financial capacity, and experience in promotional activities. The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Creative Europe programme participants, with specific emphasis on existing EHL sites which numbered 67, representing 275+ locations by 2025.

This opportunity is designed for ongoing operational management rather than developing new concepts, focusing on the sustainable development and expansion of the existing EHL network. The selected project will act as a secretariat for the EHL Network, managing collaboration among stakeholders, training programs, and facilitating financial support to EHL sites through cascading grants.

The application process is a single-stage submission, with the deadline set for February 11, 2026, and the evaluation will occur from February to March 2026. Only one award will be granted, making this a very competitive funding opportunity. Previous experience suggests that typical co-financing rates may apply, usually requiring a minimum 20% contribution from applicants.

Key objectives for the funded project include increasing the visibility of the EHL sites, enhancing understanding of the EHL initiative, fostering collaboration among heritage players, and integrating efforts with broader cultural projects. The initiative aims to reinforce a sense of European identity and promote community engagement by providing tools, training, and financial support mechanisms tailored for stakeholders.

Overall, the funding represents a significant investment in the ongoing management and development of European cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of collaborative and interconnected actions across the continent.

This EU grant opportunity, titled "Support for the implementation of the European Heritage Label (CREA-CULT-2026-EU-HERITAGE-LABEL)," falls under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) and aims to bolster the European Heritage Label (EHL) network. The action type is CREA-LS, a CREA Lump Sum Grant, with the Model Grant Agreement being a CREA Lump Sum Grant [CREA-AG-LS]. The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline model.

The call was published on 26 November 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 11 February 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is scheduled for February-March 2026, with information to applicants expected in August 2026. The signature of the grant agreement is planned for May-November 2026.

The total budget allocated to this topic is 3,000,000 EUR. The call anticipates funding one project proposed by a single organization or a consortium of organizations.

The general objective of this call is to continue supporting the European Heritage Label network of sites, fostering training, exchanges, collaboration, and opportunities among EHL stakeholders. The selected project will act as a secretariat for the EHL Network, accompanying the work of EHL sites and stakeholders and ensuring the sustainability of the European Heritage Label.

The project will target the following stakeholders:

EHL Sites: 67 Heritage sites representing 275+ locations awarded the label until 2025, with the number expected to evolve in 2026. These sites encompass a variety of cultural heritage and offer geographical and temporal coverage of European territory and history. They would benefit from integration and support for cross-border projects, public relations, promotional activities, audience-development programs, digital transition, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.

EHL National Coordinators: 26 EHL national coordinators representing EU Member States' national administrations in 2025. Equipping them with additional skills will improve their activities at the European level and benefit the growth and outreach of the EHL. The entity implementing the action should facilitate a dialogue with the EHL National Coordinators, supporting regular information exchange and activities.

The themes and priorities of this call include:

Increase the presence and understanding of the EHL Action:

Externally: Strengthen visibility through outreach, media engagement, communication campaigns, workshops, stakeholder assemblies, and award ceremonies. Raise the visibility of rural and smaller sites.

Internally: Promote a coherent shared narrative and unified visual identity. Develop common tools and platforms for internal communication, joint outreach, and collaborative initiatives. Introduce a multilingualism support mechanism ("Translation Bank").

Capacity Building for EHL Stakeholders:

Learning & Upskilling: Enhance skills in European project coordination through training programs and advice on EU funding. Support EHL sites in designing activities reflecting their European significance. Develop a support scheme for candidate sites.

Networking & Financing: Provide financial support to EHL sites for implementing Action Plans aligned with EHL priorities (EU values, shared European history, youth engagement, sustainable tourism, multilingualism) through financial support to third parties (cascading grants). Strengthen cooperation within the Network by enabling EHL sites to collaborate on joint projects, fostering exchanges and collective initiatives through financial support to third parties (cascading grants). Support smaller sites through capacity-building programs and mentorship schemes. Prioritize investment in site-level and regional actions.

Foster collaboration among European heritage players:

Build synergies with other European cultural heritage initiatives (European Heritage Days, European Heritage Awards, European Heritage Hub). Contribute to Europe-wide events by promoting intercultural dialogue and positioning EHL sites as ambassadors of European identity and values. Collaborate with initiatives like European Capitals of Culture, European Authors’ Day, and European Youth Week. Explore a cooperation scheme with the DiscoverEU initiative and incentivize collaboration with entities developing AI tools for cultural heritage.

Conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, submission, evaluation, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and legal and financial setup are detailed in the call document.

Applicants must adhere to the proposal page limits and layout described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

The call document, application form templates (Standard application form (CREA CULTURE), Detailed budget table (CREA LSII)), Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), CREA Annual Work Programmes, CREA Regulation 2021/818, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement are available as additional documents.

For non-IT questions, contact EACEA-SIEHL@ec.europa.eu. For IT-related questions, contact the IT Helpdesk.

This funding opportunity aims to strengthen the European Heritage Label initiative by providing support to a network of designated heritage sites. The goal is to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and collaborative potential of these sites, fostering a stronger sense of European identity and shared cultural values among citizens. The selected project will act as a central secretariat, coordinating activities, providing training and resources, and facilitating collaboration among the heritage sites and national coordinators. By focusing on community-wide actions, multilingualism, and cross-border collaborations, the initiative seeks to maximize the impact and cost-effectiveness of EU investment in cultural heritage. The call encourages proposals that prioritize capacity building for smaller sites, promote sustainable tourism, engage youth, and leverage innovative technologies like artificial intelligence to enhance the visitor experience and broaden access to European heritage.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to a single organisation or a consortium of organisations with a special focus on cultural heritage and capacity building, which are active in the creative and cultural sectors or running capacity-building and promotional work.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a CREA Lump Sum Grant (CREA-LS).

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is within the EU, as evidenced by the mention of 22 EU Member States having been awarded the European Heritage Label. The call targets stakeholders in the EHL initiative, including EHL sites and EHL National Coordinators, which are based in EU Member States.

Target Sector: The target sector is cultural heritage, with a focus on capacity building, creative and cultural sectors, and promotional work.

Mentioned Countries: The call explicitly mentions 22 EU Member States that have been awarded the European Heritage Label. It also mentions that in 2025, 26 EHL national coordinators representing EU Member States' national administrations have undertaken these functions.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on the implementation and continuation of existing initiatives, specifically the European Heritage Label network. The call aims to build upon the results achieved and the project activities implemented so far, suggesting a stage of development and consolidation.

Funding Amount: The budget for this topic is EUR 3,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. Additionally, the selected project is expected to provide financial support to third parties (cascading grants) to EHL sites for the implementation of their Action Plans.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Creative Europe Programme (CREA) to support the implementation of the European Heritage Label (EHL). The call aims to fund one project, which can be proposed by a single organisation or a consortium, to act as a secretariat for the EHL Network. The selected project will be responsible for strengthening the EHL network, fostering training, exchanges, collaboration, and opportunities among EHL stakeholders. The project should focus on increasing the presence and understanding of the EHL action, building capacity for EHL stakeholders, and fostering collaboration among European heritage players. The call targets EHL sites and national coordinators within the EU. The funding mechanism is a CREA Lump Sum Grant, with a total budget of EUR 3,000,000. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of 11 February 2026. The project is expected to build upon existing initiatives and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the European Heritage Label. The selected project will also be responsible for providing financial support to third parties (cascading grants) to EHL sites for the implementation of their Action Plans. The project should also explore the development of a cooperation scheme between the EHL Network and DiscoverEU beneficiaries. Furthermore, the action will incentivise collaboration with entities actively developing or deploying artificial intelligence tools for cultural heritage.