Theophano Foundation

23/04/2026

Yesterday at the Opening Ceremony of the Delphi Economic Forum, President Herman Van Rompuy and Mr Stavros Andreadis took the stage to present the Empress Theophano Prize and its mission of strengthening European common values and cultural understanding.

25/11/2025

The Sound of Europe: Harmony, Heritage, and Hope! 🎶🇪🇺🌟

The 6th Empress Theophano Prize ceremony concluded with a musical tribute to our common European heritage, performed by the acclaimed EUYO - The European Union Youth Orchestra.
15 musicians from 9 European countries, along with the flutist Ljubiša Jovanović, the lyra player Sokratis Sinopoulos and young musicians of the Megaro Youth Symphony Orchestra MOYSA! 🎻🎺

Titled "Place, Space and Celebration," the performance featured music from 7 composers and 7 countries 🌍, celebrating the diverse cultural heritage orbit of Europa Nostra.

This performance beautifully underscored the unity in diversity that defines Europe and the mission of the Theophano Prize. Thank you to the EUYO and all its supporters for this unforgettable finale! 🙏

07/11/2025

Our Heritage, Our Compass: A Historic Night in Thessaloniki 🏛️✨

Last Thursday, the 6th Empress Theophano Prize was proudly presented to Europa Nostra in the Rotunda Monument, honoring their lifelong mission to safeguard European cultural heritage.

The ceremony, attended by H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, celebrated cultural heritage as the essential cohesive power for the future of Europe. The consistent message throughout the evening was clear: this award highlights the positive, common, and universal values that bridge contradictions and prove that the ties that unite us outweigh our differences. Our heritage is a living force and a crucial source of belonging and hope, but we must protect it - because to lose our heritage is to lose our compass. EUROPA NOSTRA’s mission offers hope for a stronger common European identity through "unity in diversity."

The night concluded with an enchanting musical tribute 🎶, featuring sixteen musicians from nine countries, demonstrating the inexhaustible power of European art to foster harmony and dialogue!

05/11/2025

Just a day until we celebrate the profound importance of our shared past for our common future! ✨

The Empress Theophano Prize Ceremony is fast approaching, where we will formally present the award to Europa Nostra in Thessaloniki. We recognize their unwavering mission to safeguard cultural heritage as the cohesive power vital for a strong and unified Europe.

Don't miss the celebration on November 6th in the historic Rotunda!

05/11/2025

Join the Spirit of Europe, the light of Thessaloniki: The Empress Theophano Prize Goes Online! ✨

There is only one more day to go and we are thrilled to announce that the 2025 Award Ceremony, celebrating Europa Nostra, will be live-streamed worldwide from the Rotunda monument of Thessaloniki.

Join an international audience and high-level delegates as we highlight the cohesive power of cultural heritage for the future of Europe. This is a moment to deepen your understanding of the values that unite us.

➡️ https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0pnx7D0

The Empress Theophano Prize rewards individuals or organisations who make an outstanding contribution to bridging Europe’s historic diversities.

29/10/2025

The Stage is Set! The ceremony will take place in the 2000-year-old Rotunda of Thessaloniki, a monument reflecting Roman, Byzantine, Orthodox, and Ottoman influences. It’s the perfect symbol of the common, multicultural roots we celebrate.

24/10/2025

One Prize. Five Years. Staging our common European values.

The Empress Theophano Prize is unique in its mission: to recognize contributions that improve mutual understanding of our diverse roots and advance human betterment. 🤝

Our laureates are a testament to the power of action across every field:

2020: The Erasmus+ Programme 🇪🇺, empowering a generation of cooperation between young Europeans.
2021: Dr. Uğur Şahin & Dr. Özlem Türeci 🧬, proving Science is vital to the Common Good.
2022: Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra 🎶, for building bridges through music.
2023: The United Nations (António Guterres ) 🕊️, for the humanitarian role of multilateral leadership.
2024: Special Olympics🏅, building a world of acceptance and inclusion.

Watch this special retrospective to witness the unparalleled impact of these world-shapers. Which story inspires you the most? 👇

21/10/2025

This year, we highlight cultural heritage to light the way forward. 🔦

The Empress Theophano Prize 2025 will be awarded to Europa Nostra, honouring its extraordinary role in safeguarding the cultural threads that bind Europe together. It reminds us that what we inherit, we must also protect—and highlights the cohesive power of cultural heritage for the present and future of Europe.

📅 Award Ceremony: Thursday 6 November

✨The future of Europe is rooted in its heritage✨