European Cemeteries Route Receives ECTN Award for Sustainable Cultural Tourism

On 24 September 2026, the European Cemeteries Route received first place at the ECTN Awards for its initiative Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe.

ECTN Award for the European Cemeteries Route

On Thursday, 24 September 24 2026, the 19th ECTN Conference took place in Skiathos, Greece. During the event, the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) presented the 13th edition of the "Destination for Sustainable Cultural Tourism 2026" awards. First place in the "Transnational Thematic Products" category was awarded to the European Cemeteries Route, managed by the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), for its initiative "Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe".

This award represents significant European recognition of ASCE's long-standing efforts to highlight cemeteries as a vital part of European cultural heritage and as spaces with immense potential for cultural and sustainable tourism.

About the Significant Cemeteries for a Sustainable Europe Initiative

The recognition is also of special significance for Maribor (Slovenia)—the city currently hosting the ASCE Presidency—where the initiative "Significant Cemeteries for a Sustainable Europe" began developing in 2023. ASCE President Lidija Pliberšek, M.Sc., also serves as the director of the ASCE member company Pogrebno podjetje Maribor (part of the JHMB Group).

A key foundation of the initiative is the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. Through its activities, ASCE connects the cultural heritage of cemeteries with issues of sustainability, peace, inclusive communities, environmental protection, and a responsible approach to spatial management.

Connecting Cultural Heritage Across Borders

"If we want to discover the true story of a city, we should visit its cemetery. That is where the stories of its people, architecture, art, and identity through time are revealed," emphasized ASCE President Lidija Pliberšek, M.Sc., upon receiving the award.

The European Cemeteries Route connects this extraordinary cultural heritage across European borders to preserve it, present it to the broader public, and integrate it into cultural tourism. This award further confirms the important role cemeteries can play in sustainability and responsible tourism.

"I am particularly pleased that this broader role of cemeteries has been recognized. As President of ASCE, I proudly accepted the award on behalf of our members across 169 European cities and 28 European countries," added Pliberšek.

As she customarily does during international appearances, she concluded her address in Slovenian with the words "Hvala lepa in nasvidenje" (Thank you very much and goodbye), bringing a distinct Slovenian touch to the international stage.

WDEC 2026: Quality education

The 2026 Week of Discovering European Cemeteries will focus on the role cemeteries play in enabling, implementing and promoting quality education.

Theme of WDEC 2026

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026 will once again be held as a central activity within the framework of the ASCE initiative Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe. Following the pattern established in 2024 and 2025, the initiative aligns its activities with one of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating how cemeteries can contribute to a more sustainable society. 

Scheduled from May 22 to May 31, 2026, the WDEC 2026 will focus on Goal 4: Quality education and will take place within the same thematic context as the ASCE Schools on Cemeteries project, offering expanded opportunities for innovative activities and new cooperation.

This emphasis on education is perfectly suited to cemeteries because they are not only places of remembrance but also open-air museums and unique classrooms where history, art, and culture intersect. They provide countless opportunities for learning about the individuals who shaped our communities, the values that guided them, and the importance of education and knowledge in building a more sustainable future.

Main orientations for your activities

We encourage all ASCE members to use the WDEC 2026 theme as a framework for organizing engaging and innovative activities. As you plan your programs, consider the following guiding principles:

• Why is education important in sustainable development? Explore the role of knowledge and education in creating environmentally and socially responsible communities, and consider how cemeteries can contribute to this process.
• Who were the important educators in city history? Look for the graves and stories of teachers, professors, philanthropists, scientists, artists, and reformers who helped to shape the educational landscape and intellectual life of your city.
• What is sustainable education? Consider how the conservation of cemetery heritage itself is a form of sustainable education, and what specific lessons about ecology, history, or social equity can your cemetery offer?
• How education changed life in a city? Plan tours or workshops focusing on historical figures whose educational contributions led to significant social, technological, or political changes in your community.

Your programs could include guided thematic tours, educational workshops for all generations, exhibitions about local educational pioneers, or digital projects that bring these stories to a wider audience.

Share your activities

We invite you to share programs, photos and other materials of your planned activities during WDEC 2026 ba using the form below. We will be happy to publish them on the ASCE website and our social media channels.

➤ SUBMISSION FORM

Photo exhibition "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe"

The company Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, presiding member of ASCE, has prepared a special photo exhibition at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia.

About the exhibition

The exhibition "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe" showcases photographs and descriptions of some good practices developed by ASCE members as part of the ASCE "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe" initiative, which promotes the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The installation presents the initiative, highlights activities implemented by nine cemeteries across Europe in 2024 and 2025, and also features the Peace Tree Project along with the cemeteries that have joined the project so far. These examples demonstrate how European cemeteries are actively working towards sustainability, addressing various aspects from environmental management to community engagement.

More than just a display of good practice, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness and inspire action. It invites visitors to see cemeteries not only as places of remembrance but also as key actors in sustainable development. By sharing these stories, it encourages communities across Europe to adopt similar approaches and reflect on sustainability in everyday life.

This long-term exhibition, located in front of the chapel at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, is on display from September 2025 onwards.

Photos of the exhibition

*The entire photo album of the exhibition is available HERE.