​Youth Heritage Days 2026 Comes to Palermo

Youth.Heritage.Europe. and Le Vie dei Tesori unite to bring Europe's main youth heritage event to the Mediterranean!

Youth.Heritage.Europe. (Y.H.E.) and Le Vie dei Tesori are pleased to announce the 2026 edition of the Youth Heritage Days, to be held in Palermo, Sicily, between 22-24 October 2026. Taking place in the framework of the European Heritage Hub, the event will support the EU-funded platform’s mission to drive the green, digital, and social transformation of the European society through youth’s perspective.
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As Y.H.E.’s annual gathering, the 2026 edition will be held in a hybrid format for the first time,  bringing together young heritage professionals, students, researchers, and representatives of cultural institutions and civil society from across Europe.​

Palermo is one of the Mediterranean's most layered cultural capitals — a city shaped by centuries of overlapping civilisations, faiths, and traditions. Its rich built heritage, dynamic civil society, and its renowned Le Vie dei Tesori Festival make it an ideal setting to explore youth engagement and  cultural heritage at the local and European levels. As a crossroads of cultures, Palermo embodies the very questions the Youth Heritage Days 2026 seeks to address.

This year's event will explore three interconnected themes at the intersection of youth, heritage, and society:

• Local Communities & Heritage: How can young people become active agents of local heritage and community development?
• Cultural Tourism: How are young people shaping, challenging, and contributing to sustainable cultural tourism?
• The Mediterranean: What are the specificities of youth heritage engagement in the Mediterranean, and how do they connect to broader European contexts?

The programme unfolds across three days and combines four different round table discussions, the presentation of the results of Youth Mapping Initiative, an open public debate, and cultural visits integrated into Palermo's local heritage scene — including events linked to the Le Vie dei Tesori festival.


PROGRAMME

Over three action-packed days, the programme weaves together four round table discussions, the launch of the Youth Mapping Initiative, an open public debate, and cultural visits woven into Palermo's vibrant heritage scene, including special moments tied to the Le Vie dei Tesori festival.
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Thursday, 22 October 2026 

Morning — Y.H.E. Members Only (optional)
10:00 - 11:00 | Board Meeting (tbd)
11:00 - 12:30 | General Assembly of Youth.Heritage.Europe.
            11:00 | first call for the members
            11:30 | second call for the members

The afternoon programme will open to all participants at the Cultural Hub Porta di Mare.

16:30 – 17:00 | Opening Session
Official opening of the Youth Heritage Days 2026.

17:00 – 17:30 | Keynote Speech
The opening programme will be followed by a cultural visit and an opportunity to explore Palermo's heritage through innovative and immersive experiences.

18:00 - 19:00 | Cultural Visit (optional)
Participants will have the opportunity to visit the Le Vie dei Tesori Cultural Innovation Hub, located at the event venue, as well as explore the Virtual Museum of the History of Palermo (entrance fee: €10).

19:00 | Welcome Cocktail & Networking & Italian Gelato Workshop
The first day will conclude with a welcome cocktail and Italian gelato workshop, offering participants the opportunity to meet, connect, and exchange ideas in an informal setting. No dress code is required.

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​Friday, 23 October 2026
The second day will focus on youth participation in heritage through a series of round-table discussions exploring local communities, cultural tourism, and the Mediterranean.

09:30 – 11:00 | Round Table I: Youth Participation and Local Communities: Best Practices in Heritage Projects
A discussion exploring inspiring examples of how young people are actively contributing to heritage initiatives rooted in local communities.

Marco Coico

moderator

Angel Marín Berral

Angela Puppini

Adi Softic

Carlo Roccafiorita

11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break
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11:30 – 13:00 | Round Table II: Youth and Cultural Tourism: Best Practices and Emerging Approaches
This session will explore the role of young people in shaping, challenging, and contributing to more sustainable and inclusive approaches to cultural tourism.

Jasna Popovic

moderator

Armine Karapetyan

Simona Bravaglieri

Patricia Horlacher

Theodoros Alexandridis

​13:00 – 15:00 | Free Time

15:00 – 17:00 | Round Table III: Youth, Heritage and the Mediterranean: Best Practices from the Region
Focusing on the specific contexts, challenges, and opportunities of the Mediterranean, this discussion will bring together perspectives and experiences from youth-led and youth-focused heritage initiatives across the region.
*Please note that the venue for this session may be subject to change.​

Sophia Dibbs

moderator

Mimi Kotorri

Serena Meloni

Atakan Budakci

Athina Fatsea

Viola Bartoli

​18:00 | Evening Concert (optional)
The day will conclude with an evening concert and another opportunity to experience Palermo's vibrant cultural scene together.
*Doors opening at 18:00, the entry possible until 18:20 (ticket: €40).

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Saturday, 24 October 2026
The final day brings the Youth Heritage Days 2026 full circle, presenting the tangible outcomes of the event and opening the floor to a wider conversation on youth's role in heritage before drawing the programme to a close.

Morning — Open to All Registered Participants

09:30 – 10:00 | Presentation of the Position Paper 2.0 and the Youth Mapping Initiative 
The updated Position Paper 2.0 alongside the launch of the Youth Mapping Initiative will be presented, marking a key milestone in Y.H.E.'s ongoing advocacy work.

10:00 – 11:00 | "Coffee, Culture and Chat" — Open Debate 
This informal open debate invites participants to reflect together on the themes explored throughout the event, over coffee and conversation.

11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:00 | Round Table IV: Youth in Heritage 
This closing round table brings together a diverse panel of young voices to share their perspectives and experiences at the intersection of youth and heritage.

Sorina Neacsu

moderator

Vasileios Chanis

Ilona Ghazaryan

Weronika Warzocha

Elena Cautis

​13:00 – 13:30 | Closing Session 
The Youth Heritage Days 2026 will draw to a close, bringing together the reflections, ideas, and connections built over the three days in Palermo.

*Please Note: Attending  the round tables, the welcome networking cocktail on Thursday 22 October, the coffee breaks, the cultural visit within the Le Vie dei Tesori festival throughout the weekend, as well as, the gelato workshop, and the certificate of attendance are all included in the registration fee. 

The evening concert on Friday, 23 October as well as Le Vie dei Tesori Cultural Innovation Hub guided tour on Thursday, 22 October are optional and involve additional costs, to be covered separately by participants who wish to attend. Please select accordingly while filling in the registration form.

For online attendees, the conference is free of charge.
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For all other enquiries, please write to us at [email protected]. 

REGISTER HERE

If you’d like to stay up to date with Youth.Heritage.Europe.’s activities and be part of a growing network of young heritage professionals, feel free to join as a member.