The ŽIVA Award 2026 call for applications has now closed. This year’s response was exceptional – the highest number of applicants to date – confirming the growing recognition and importance of the ŽIVA Award as one of the leading international platforms for recognising excellence in the field of Slavic cultural heritage.

In the coming months, the submitted applications will undergo professional evaluation by the international jury, after which attention will turn to the highlight of this year’s edition – the 12th ŽIVA Conference and Award Ceremony, which will take place in Bled, Slovenia, from 30 September to 3 October 2026.

The Forum of Slavic Cultures is preparing this year’s programme in close cooperation with the Bled Culture Institute and the Municipality of Bled. With its exceptional combination of natural and cultural heritage, Bled is one of Slovenia’s most recognisable destinations and an excellent setting for international professional dialogue. It will host an international gathering of museums, heritage institutions, experts, and partners from different countries, united by a shared commitment to the preservation, research, and contemporary interpretation of Slavic heritage.

The main venue of this year’s programme will be the Bled Festival Hall, where the conference events, presentations, and the formal award ceremony will take place. Bled also carries special symbolic significance as the host of this year’s edition: in 2024, the Bled Culture Institute received the ŽIVA Award for Best Slavic Heritage Site in recognition of its exemplary preservation and presentation of Bled Castle.

This year’s call once again covers three main categories:

• the Best Slavic Museum Award,
• the Best Slavic Natural and Cultural Heritage Site Award, and
• the Diploma for Excellence in Preserving Slavic Heritage Worldwide.

More information about this year’s conference and programme will be announced soon.