Elizabeth Tower wins Europa Nostra Award 2026
The restoration of the tower, commonly known as Big Ben, is amongst the 2026 winners of Europe’s most prestigious awards for heritage.
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and have been run by Europa Nostra ever since.
For 24 years, the Awards have been a key tool to recognise and promote the multiple values of heritage for Europe’s culture, society, economy and environment.
The award is the most recent in a string of esteemed accolades for the project, following the Stirling Prize 2026 People’s Poll win late last year.
– Europa Nostra Awards Jury
The project focused on both restoration and modernisation while preserving the building’s historic character.
It included repairing the original 1859 clock mechanism and restoring the clock dials, hands, and their original blue-and-gold decoration. Work was also carried out on the roof and the Ayrton Light, along with structural improvements such as stone repairs and waterproofing. Inside, the tower was redecorated with plaster repairs and breathable paint. In addition, modern building services like LED lighting and heating were installed, and new lifts were added to improve access and safety.
The Europa Nostra Awards have highlighted and disseminated heritage excellence and best practices in Europe, encouraged the cross-border exchange of knowledge, and connected heritage stakeholders in wider networks.
