Registration is now open for the fifth edition of Night of Fortresses Goes Green, which will take place on 8 and 9 May 2026. This European initiative brings together fortresses, castles, museums, and other historical sites around the shared idea of sustainability and social responsibility.
Heritage managers, cultural institutions, and fortified sites across Europe are invited to apply through the online form available at: https://nightoffortresses.org/en/registration/
Organizers may take part on one or both event days, depending on their plans and capacities. Participation offers international visibility, exchange of experience, and stronger cooperation among European heritage institutions.
Following a successful 2025 edition, with 195 events held in ten countries, the event continues to grow and expand its network of heritage sites committed to sustainable development. Night of Fortresses Goes Green highlights the active role cultural heritage can play in today’s society by encouraging dialogue about the environment, tourism, and responsible resource management.
All registered programs must include a sustainability component. Through cultural, educational, and participatory activities, organizers should connect heritage with practical environmental actions. The aim is to promote sustainable tourism, encourage responsible behaviour, and involve visitors in environmental protection. Special attention should be given to engaging local communities and ensuring content is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Night of Fortresses Goes Green continues to build a community that sees heritage as a place for meeting, learning, and shared action — step by step, event by event.
Night of Fortresses Goes Green Event is a part of the GIFTSnet project (Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions) that started on September 15, 2024, with duration until March 14, 2027. Project is led by Public cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik, with partners City of Banja Luka, Municipality of Bar, City of Karlovac, Public institution Main Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, and Municipality of Ulcinj. Total project budget is €2,244,442.80, 85% of which is co-financed within Interreg IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 programme.
GIFTSnet will enhance sustainable and inclusive cultural tourism development in the programme area by implementing green, sustainable and nature-based investments in 7 cultural tourism sites in Šibenik, Karlovac, Banja Luka, Trebinje, Bar and Ulcinj, by developing socially inclusive place-based tourism offer on sites, and by building capacities of cross border stakeholders for sustainable economic, social and environmentally friendly development of cultural tourism in the programme area.
This year’s edition of Night of Fortresses Goes Green is expanding to Italy, with the municipalities of Cervia and Vieste joining the event through the project FORTIC – From remains Of the war to the aRchiTecture of peace in the cross-border area of Italy-Croatia, funded by the Interreg Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 program.
At the same time, the Night of the Fortresses expands and strengthens cooperation between cities and organizations that manage the fortified monumental heritage. The event takes place with the support of the international associations EFFORTS (European Federation of Fortified Sites) and FORTE CULTURA, which included the Night of Fortresses in the European Fortress Summer Event.
This material has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of PCI Fortress of culture and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
