After a fourteen-year hiatus, the Deputy Ministry of Culture, following a decision by the Council of Ministers, is reviving the Award for the Preservation and Promotion of Cyprus’s Archaeological Heritage.
The award, established in 2002, aims to recognise the contribution of individuals, organisations, and institutions to the protection, study, and promotion of the island’s archaeological heritage. Its revival underlines the state’s renewed commitment to safeguarding and highlighting Cyprus’s rich archaeological legacy.
The award for 2025 will be presented by Nicos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, to the distinguished French archaeologists Alain Le Brun and Odile Daune-Le Brun, in recognition of their long-standing and significant contribution to Cypriot archaeology.
The ceremony will take place on Monday, 12 January 2026, at the Pallas Theatre. The event is of particular significance as it will be among the first cultural events to be held under Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighting the country’s intention to place culture and cultural heritage at the forefront of its European agenda.
Programme of the ceremony
- 18:30 – Address by H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nicos Christodoulides
- 18:40 – Presentation of the Award citation by the Chair of the Selection Committee, Emeritus Professor Maria Iacovou
- 18:50 – Screening of a film highlighting the work of the award recipients, Alain Le Brun and Odile Daune-Le Brun
- 19:00 – Presentation of the Award by H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus
- 19:05 – Address by the award recipients
- 19:15 – Reception
The event marks an important moment for Cyprus’s cultural policy, celebrating international scholarly contribution while reaffirming the value of protecting and promoting the island’s archaeological heritage for future generations, within both a national and European context.
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