How can we create heritage experiences that inspire visitors and stay with them?
Heritage in Motion (HIM) 2026, an international festival bringing together cultural heritage, tourism, creativity and new technologies, is coming to Bled on 29 and 30 September 2026. The festival explores how heritage can be made relevant and accessible to contemporary audiences.
The main guest of the professional programme will be Prof. Terry Stevens, an internationally recognised expert in tourism, cultural development and destination management. In his keynote, “A Spark and a Sense of Wonder: Creating Inspiring Heritage Experiences,” he will explore how authentic stories, local culture and a strong sense of place can transform a visit to a heritage site into an experience that engages visitors emotionally and stays with them.
Drawing on the concepts of psychogeography and selected examples of successful cultural heritage experiences, Stevens will show how such experiences can be thoughtfully designed, developed and integrated into the tourism offering of destinations.
An International Perspective on the Future of Heritage
The professional programme will also offer a range of perspectives from museums, cultural heritage, tourism and creative practices.
Sandro Debono (Malta), a museum professional and heritage consultant, will speak about the emerging physical-digital, or “phygital”, nature of heritage and how technology and storytelling are transforming the relationship between physical and digital heritage.
Alenka Selčan Božič (Slovenia), Creative Director of Art Rebel 9, will draw on her projects to explore how to create digital experiences that capture attention, sustain engagement and guide visitors towards a deeper understanding of heritage.
Mirena Staneva (Bulgaria), from the UNESCO Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage, will present an international perspective on safeguarding, preserving and communicating intangible cultural heritage.
Together, they will address a question that is important for both the cultural and tourism sectors: How can heritage become the starting point for meaningful, authentic and contemporary experiences?
A Festival Connecting Heritage and Tourism
Heritage in Motion will also bring to Bled a selection of outstanding international projects in new digital experiences, VR/AR/XR and audiovisual interpretation of heritage. This year’s award candidates come from 19 countries, and their projects will be presented on 30 September.
The programme will also feature a screening of Fiume o morte! (2025) by director Igor Bezinović, which explores an unusual chapter in the history of Rijeka and offers an intriguing example of how historical research, creative storytelling and contemporary filmmaking can come together.
29 September, afternoon – Bled Festival Hall
Professional programme and presentations by Sandro Debono, Alenka Selčan Božič and Mirena Staneva
29 September, 19:30 – Bled Festival Hall
Screening of Fiume o morte!
30 September, morning – Bled Festival Hall
Keynote by Prof. Terry Stevens and presentations by the Heritage in Motion 2026 finalists
30 September, 20:00 – Bled Castle
Heritage in Motion 2026 Award Ceremony
You Are Invited
The festival is particularly intended for professionals working in tourism, culture and cultural heritage, museums, destination development, the creative industries, and the development of tourism and cultural products.
The festival offers an opportunity to exchange experiences, develop new partnerships and reflect on how heritage can not only be preserved, but also transformed, in a contemporary and responsible way, into an inspiring experience for visitors and local communities.
Register for the Heritage in Motion 2026 Festival
More information about the programme: