Chile's Minister of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage, Francisco Undurraga, officially launched the 2026 Cultural Heritage Day this Wednesday. The announcement was made in front of the National Museum of Natural History in Quinta Normal Park, marking the start of the call for participants for this national event.
According to reports from CNN Chile and El Mostrador, the festivities will take place on Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31. The registration process is now open for both public and private institutions to submit their proposals via the official website, diadelpatrimonio.cl.
Institutions have until Tuesday, May 26, to register. Meanwhile, the official schedule of activities will be released to the public starting May 12, according to both news outlets.
Expanding into the summer season
During the launch, Minister Undurraga previewed an expansion of the cultural calendar for the year. The Secretary of State confirmed that the initiative to hold a second Heritage Day during the summer months will continue.
“We believe it is essential that citizens traveling during the summer season have the opportunity to discover other heritage sites that are part of our country's living history,” Undurraga stated, as reported by the sources.
The event aims to integrate various forms of participation. The 2026 edition will feature both in-person and virtual activities, driven by social organizations, local communities, and individuals throughout Chile.
Undersecretary of Heritage, Emilio de la Cerda, emphasized that the success of the event relies on decentralization and the involvement of local actors. “In that sense, we are particularly interested in seeing communities themselves drive and develop their own activities,” De la Cerda noted, according to El Mostrador.
The launch ceremony was also attended by the Director of the National Museum of Natural History, Mario Castro, and the Metropolitan Regional Director of the National Service of Cultural Heritage, Gabriel Díaz.
