Interpret Europe Conference

IE Conference: Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro

16-19 April 2026 in Faro, Portugal

 

Join us between 16 and 19 April 2026 for the Interpret Europe conference entitled Re-interpreting heritage in the light of Faro

 

We will gather in Faro to discuss how interpretation can enhance the value of heritage – both natural and cultural – for people and societies in European democracies.
Faro, at the very Southwestern edge of the continent, is the right place to reflect on a theme which we consider of central importance for the future of Europe in challenging times of rapid change. It was here where the Council of Europe launched the “Faro Convention” in 2005, embarking on a journey towards more democratic, people-centred, and value-based practices in dealing with Europe’s heritage.
It challenges us to reconsider what heritage means for individuals, democratic societies, and for Europe as a whole. We are convinced that the Faro spirit is even more relevant today for all heritage interpretation, including natural heritage, despite the official legal text referring to cultural heritage only.
Join us to discuss how the Faro spirit can inspire theory and practice of interpretation. And, vice versa, how new approaches to co-creative interpretation can empower Faro heritage communities while strengthening cohesion of democratic societies committed to European values and sustainable development as ideals which are rooted in Europe’s past.

 

The city of Faro and its surroundings, in Portugal’s Algarve, are alluringly rich in natural and cultural heritage. Faro is situated in the extreme south-west of Europe and the whole region has been shaped throughout history by the succession and coexistence of diverse cultures and religions arriving by land and sea. It can look back on a turbulent past and it displays traces of these events everywhere. Many names in present-day Portugal and Spain testify to the influence of Romans, Byzantines, Visigoths and finally Moors. For centuries, explorers set sail from the Iberian Peninsula exporting, in turn, influences from this region.

Next April, we will gather in Faro, the birthplace of the Convention, to reflect on how the field of heritage interpretation can uphold and advance these principles in practice.

We invite contributions from:

• Practitioners working in interpretation, heritage education, mediation or interpretive planning

• Trainers, teachers and researchers involved in professional development

• Managers and policymakers shaping the frameworks for interpretive practice

   

We welcome proposals for presentations and workshops that foster dialogue, share experience and explore how interpretation can meaningfully engage with diverse heritage communities.

 

Find more about it on the dedicated conference page.

 

 

We look forward to welcoming you to Portugal!