9 Cultural heritage in European cities and regions is at the core of our identity. Local policymakers and stakeholders have also increasingly acknowledged its role in economic and sustainable development and people’s quality of life. This publication draws on 18 months of cities and regions exchanging and working together through the Cultural Heritage in Action EU-funded project to: Showcase innovative and participatory projects across cities and regions in Europe used to answer three main challenges: social inclusion, urbanisation and governance. Deliver cultural heritage-based policy recommen-dations to strengthen the sustainable local cultural heritage ecosystems. Climate change, social inclusion and economic competition as well as global megatrends such as rapid urbanisation, digitalisation and individualisation are the chief challenges that cities and regions face. These global trends materialise in the form of unemployment, disengagement, depopulation, marginalisation, or loss of cultural identity at local level. Cultural heritage is key to solving these challenges as it encourages experimentation, stimulates participation and responsibility and rewards a multisectoral approach. Cultural heritage can drive urban and rural sustainable growth, competitiveness and social and environmental innovation. Local people’s experiences of cultural heritage imbue it with value. This legacy from the past is constantly acquired, transformed and interpreted by people to be transmitted to future generations. As such, cultural heritage advances the most effective human-centred approach to yield sustainable, inclusive and equitable outcomes. Through this publication, you will discover how cities and regions are making the most of culture and cultural heritage as a rudder to guide us through a changing world towards a future that works for everyone, and how you can put these ideas to work in your locality. The conservation of cultural heritage, and built heritage in particular, plays a role in sustainable urban development that contributes to solving the main challenges that cities and regions face nowadays, such as social inclusion, the management of public spaces, job creation and local governance.