European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) Competitions
Have you been inspired by your visit to European Heritage Open Days? Share your experience for a chance to win a gift voucher.
Heritage Exposed Photo Competition
Capture the atmosphere, character and unique details of Northern Ireland’s heritage.
Our Heritage Exposed Photo Competition invites you to share your most striking images inspired by the places you explore.
Submit your best photos digitally via email to via email to ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk, or by sharing on social media using #EHODCreative2026 and tagging @LoveHeritageNI on Facebook and / or Instagram. The competition is open to all ages.
Selected images may be featured across our suite of digital channels and used in future promotional materials, celebrating the creativity and perspective of participants.
Children’s Art Competition
Young people are invited to take part in our Children’s Art Competition by creating an original piece inspired by a favourite building, monument or heritage event. This could be somewhere visited during EHOD weekend, a local landmark, or a place they would like to explore in the future.
Entries should be submitted as a clear photograph or scan of the artwork by a parent, guardian or teacher to ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk.
Alternatively, entries may be shared on social media using #EHODCreative2026 and tagging @LoveHeritageNI on Facebook and / or Instagram.
The competition will include a range of age categories, with further details to be confirmed. Images of submitted artwork may be featured across EHOD social media channels and may also be selected for inclusion in a future exhibition.
Competition Terms and Conditions
Heritage Exposed Photo Competition
The Promoter
The competition is organised by the Historic Environment Division at the Department for Communities (DfC).
Eligibility
The competition is open to people of all ages. Entrants under 18 years of age must have permission from a parent or guardian to enter. Employees directly involved in organising or judging the competition may not enter.
How to Enter
Entries may be submitted either by email or via social media. No purchase necessary.
Email: Entries should be sent to ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk. Please include the entrant's name and contact details. Entrants under 18 years of age should also provide the name and contact details of a parent or guardian.
Social Media: Entries may be posted on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #EHODCreative2026 andtagging @LoveHeritageNI. Multiple entries are permitted and each entry will be considered individually by the judging panel.
Entries must be received by 30 September 2026. Late entries may not be considered.
Entry Requirements
Entries must be the original work of the entrant. AI-generated images are not permitted.
There is no limit on the number of photographs that may be submitted by an individual entrant. However, The Promoter reserves the right to limit the number of prizes awarded to any one entrant.
Basic editing is permitted, including cropping, colour correction and brightness adjustments.
Photographs must not contain offensive, defamatory, unlawful or inappropriate material.
Entries must be submitted in accordance with the competition instructions.
Permissions and Consents
Entrants are responsible for obtaining permission from any identifiable individuals appearing in their photographs.
Where a photograph includes a person under 18 years of age, the entrant must have permission from a parent or legal guardian before submitting the image.
Entrants must ensure that photographs do not infringe the rights of any third party.Photographs must be taken safely and lawfully. Entrants must not trespass, enter restricted areas, or place themselves or others at risk in order to obtain a photograph.
By entering the competition, entrants confirm that they have obtained all necessary permissions and consents for the submission and use of their photograph.
Judging
Photographs will be judged on creativity, originality, technical quality, composition, and how effectively they showcase or interpret heritage in the spirit of European Heritage Open Days.
The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Prizes
Winners and runners-up will receive gift vouchers for local bookshops and/or art supply retailers. The value of prizes will be determined by The Promoter and may vary between categories.
No cash alternative will be offered.
The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value if circumstances require.
Copyright and Image Usage
Copyright remains with the photographer.
By entering the competition, participants grant The Promoter a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish, display and promote submitted images in connection with EHOD promotional activities.
This may include use in EHOD promotional websites, social media channels, printed materials, exhibitions, displays, reports and publications connected with EHOD.
Photographer credit will be given where reasonably practicable.
Personal Data
Personal data will be used solely for administering the competition, contacting winners and publicising the competition.
All personal data will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Publicity
Winners may be announced on EHOD websites, social media channels and promotional materials.
By entering the competition, participants agree that their name and winning image may be used for publicity purposes.
Liability
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries not received due to technical issues or other circumstances outside its control.
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or incomplete entries.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply with these Terms and Conditions.
Competition Changes
The Promoter reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel the competition where necessary due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
Acceptance of Terms
By entering the competition, entrants, and where applicable their parent or guardian, confirm that they have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by them.
Children's Art Competition
The Promoter
The competition is organised by the Historic Environment Division at the Department for Communities (DfC).
Eligibility
Entrants must be aged 16 years or under on the competition closing date.
Entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian, teacher or group leader where appropriate.
Employees directly involved in the administration or judging of the competition may not enter.
Competition Theme
Artwork should show something that helps tell the story of our heritage. This could be a historic building, a special place, a local tradition, an object from the past, a landscape, or something else that celebrates Northern Ireland's heritage and European Heritage Open Days.
All entries must be the original work of the child entering the competition.
How to Enter
Entries may be submitted either by email or via social media. No purchase necessary.
Email: entries should be sent to ehod@communities-ni.gov.uk. Please include the child's name, age, and the name and contact details of a parent, guardian or teacher.
Social media: entries should be posted on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #EHODCreative2026 and tagging @LoveHeritageNI. Multiple entries are permitted and each entry will be considered individually by the judging panel.
Entries must be received by 30 September 2026. Late entries may not be considered.
Entry Requirements
Entries must be the original work of the entrant. AI-generated images are not permitted.
There is no limit on the number of entries that may be submitted by an individual entrant. However, The Promoter reserves the right to limit the number of prizes awarded to any one entrant.
Artwork may be created using any medium, including drawing, painting, collage or mixed media.
Entries must not contain offensive, defamatory or inappropriate content.
Entries must be submitted in accordance with the competition instructions.
Age Categories
Entries will be judged within the following categories:
- Age 5 and under
- Ages 6 to 10
- Ages 11 to 16
Judging
Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, artistic merit, and how effectively they celebrate or explore heritage in the spirit of European Heritage Open Days.
The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Prizes
Winners and runners-up in each category will receive gift vouchers for local bookshops and/or art supply retailers.
The value of prizes will be determined by The Promoter and may vary between categories.
No cash alternative will be offered.
The Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value if circumstances require.
Copyright and Use of Entries
Copyright remains with the entrant.
By entering the competition, the parent or guardian grants The Promoter a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to reproduce, publish, display and promote the artwork in connection with EHOD promotional activities.
This may include use on EHOD websites, social media channels, exhibitions, printed materials and promotional publications.
Personal Data
Personal information will be processed solely for administering the competition and contacting winners.
Information will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Children's personal information will not be published without appropriate consent.
Publicity
Winners may be announced on EHOD websites, social media channels and promotional materials.
By entering the competition, participants agree that their name and winning image may be used for publicity purposes.
Any publicity involving identifiable children will require appropriate parental or guardian consent.
Liability
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for entries not received due to technical issues or other circumstances outside its control.
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for lost, delayed, corrupted or incomplete entries.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not comply with these Terms and Conditions.
Competition Changes
The Promoter reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel the competition where necessary due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
Acceptance of Terms
By entering the competition, entrants and, where applicable, their parent, guardian or teacher confirm that they have read, understood and accepted these Terms and Conditions.