Sabine Verheyen Recognised for Putting Culture at the Heart of Europe

When culture is taken seriously inside Europe’s institutions, it becomes harder to treat it as a decorative extra. That is why we are pleased to see Sabine Verheyen MEP named winner of the Culture and Creative Industries Award at the MEP Awards 2026, hosted by The Parliament Magazine at the Albert Hall in Brussels.

For many years, Sabine Verheyen has been an important voice in conversations close to ECF’s mission and to the Cultural Deal for Europe campaign, led by the European Cultural Foundation, Culture Action Europe and Europa Nostra. From her time as Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education to her current role as First Vice-President of the European Parliament, she has argued for culture to be recognised across European policy rather than kept in a corner. In her Cultural Deal for Europe message, she reminds us that the European Union is more than a “business club with legislative tools”, and that cultural exchange is one of the ways Europe brings people together. Watch the clip here.

Her recognition comes at a moment when this argument is gaining new political weight. The Culture Compass, the Joint Declaration Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe, and the negotiations around the next EU budget all raise the same question: will Europe turn recognition of culture into real support, funding and policy space? Sabine Verheyen’s award is a reminder that cultural advocacy depends not only on artists, organisations and civil society, but also on political leaders willing to carry this argument into Europe’s institutions. We warmly congratulate her and all winners of this year’s MEP Awards.

Check out all the winners:

Image: MEP Awards