Safeguarding Living Heritage in Times of Crisis
Each year on 18 April, the global heritage community marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites (IDMS), an initiative of ICOMOS that invites professionals, institutions, and communities to reflect on our shared responsibility to protect and preserve cultural heritage.
Within the International Union of Architects (UIA), the Heritage and Cultural Identity Work Programme contributes to this mission by promoting the conservation and protection of architectural heritage and cultural sites. Through research, case studies, and international dialogue, the programme explores strategies for rehabilitation, renovation, and the sustainable management of historic environments. Its work supports the development of high standards and good practices in heritage preservation, strengthening the role of architecture in safeguarding cultural identity.
The theme of IDMS 2026 focuses on bringing visibility to the work undertaken worldwide to conserve and protect “Living Heritage”, which is increasingly threatened by disasters and conflicts unfolding in complex, multi-hazard contexts.
According to UNESCO, Living Heritage includes oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, and the skills related to traditional craftsmanship. In the perspective of ICOMOS, the concept extends further, embracing all dimensions of cultural heritage, tangible, intangible, and natural, and the communities that sustain them.
The context of the 2026 theme is framed by the ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2024–2027, which focuses on “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage – Preparedness, Response and Recovery.” After highlighting preparedness in 2025, this year’s observance turns attention to Emergency Response in the conservation of heritage affected by disasters and conflicts.
Emergency response is not an isolated action. It is part of a broader cycle of disaster risk management that links preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. Effective responses must protect heritage in moments of crisis while supporting long-term resilience and the wellbeing of the communities connected to it.
On this International Day for Monuments and Sites, the UIA Heritage and Cultural Identity Work Programme joins the international community in recognising the importance of collective action. Architects, heritage professionals, institutions, and decision-makers all have a role to play in ensuring that living heritage, its places, practices, and knowledge, continues to endure for future generations.