June 4, 2026

Days of European Heritage 2026 officially opened

The Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports organized a ceremony on June 3, 2026, to mark the opening of the event “European Heritage Days 2026,” which promotes the importance of preserving and valorizing cultural heritage as the foundation of identity and togetherness.

This year’s edition of the event is being held under the theme “Heritage in Danger – Revive, Resist, Reconsider”, which highlights the need to protect endangered forms of tangible and intangible heritage and their active inclusion in contemporary community life.

At the beginning of the program, the Federal Minister of Culture and Sports addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage and transferring traditional knowledge to future generations.

This year’s opening was also given special significance by the fact that June 7 marks UNESCO Heritage Day, dedicated to the preservation of cultural goods and traditions that connect people and communities around the world.

The artistic part of the program presented the tradition of playing the sinija, performed by representatives of the Baščaršija Cultural and Artistic Association, Iman Hadžić and Lejna Arnautlija. Their performance reminded us of the richness of traditional musical heritage and the importance of its preservation.

During the evening, visitors also had the opportunity to learn about traditional “sicanje”, an ancient technique of decorating leather with symbols and ornaments. This valuable intangible cultural heritage was presented by Mira Šimunović, Ana-Marija Antunović and Ana Ladan from Jajce, bringing its historical and cultural significance closer to the audience.

After the ceremonial declaration of the European Heritage Day 2026 as open, a musical program followed, in which Toni Maleš and Benin Mujkić performed. Their performances further enriched the evening dedicated to tradition, memory and cultural identity.

The opening brought together numerous guests, representatives of cultural institutions, bearers of traditional knowledge and lovers of cultural heritage.