Fragile yet essential, living heritage remains a pillar of cultural diversity in a world that can at times feel fragmented and divided. Living, creative, and carried by communities, it reminds us of what binds us together. Let us keep alive the hope that unite us today: to share knowledge, strengthen connections, and build bridges across borders.
Khaled El-EnanyUNESCO Director-General
Over the course of the week, the 24 Member States of the Committee examined 67 living heritage elements, including:
11 elements inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
53 elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;
1 programme selected on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Furthermore, in response to the positive impact of the safeguarding measures put in place since their inscription, 2 elements have also been transferred from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and their corresponding safeguarding programmes have been added to the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
With this year's inscriptions, 849 cultural practices in 157 countries are now part of UNESCO's living heritage Lists.
Increased commitment by States to living heritage
With over 1400 participants, this session of the Committee was the largest to date, reflecting the growing importance attached to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.
Among the elements presented this year, 9 were multinational inscriptions submitted by 28 countries. This 2025 session also marked the first inscription for 7 countries: Barbados, Chad, the Comoros, El Salvador, Gabon, Libya, and Sao Tome and Principe.
These inscriptions reflect the growing role of the Convention in strengthening dialogue and cooperation between States, as well as their shared ambition to promote the safeguarding of living heritage.
Africa's continuous commitment was confirmed at this session with the inscription of 9 elements by 13 countries.
Intangible cultural heritage a source of sustainable livelihoods
A key theme that emerged from the nominations examined during the 2025 session of the Intergovernmental Committee was the 'practice by hand' highlighting traditional craftmanship. Elements such as musical instruments, crafts, foodways and performing arts rooted in precise gestures, technical knowledge passed down through generations and deeply embedded cultural meanings, are far more than artisanal techniques.
For some communities, they represent a source of sustainable livelihoods. Crucially, they demonstrate that intangible cultural heritage is not only transmitted symbolically, but represents a source of income for the bearers, echoing the thematic initiative developed on the economic dimensions of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding.
The next meeting of the Committee will take place in December 2026 in Xiamen, China.
About UNESCO
With 194 Member States, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation on education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs over 2300 people. UNESCO oversees more than 2000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Learning, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and over 13 000 associated schools, university chairs, training and research institutions, with a global network of 200 National Commissions. Its Director-General is Khaled El-Enany.
"Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed" - UNESCO Constitution, 1945.
