- What? 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
- When will it take place? From 8 to 13 December 2025, with an opening segment on 7 December. A press conference will take place on 8 December.
Where? New Delhi, India (and online)
Media registration is compulsory, please register here. Accreditation will remain open throughout the session.
What Intangible cultural heritage is, and why it is important
Intangible cultural heritage refers to the oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals and festive events, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups and individuals recognize as part of their cultural identity. Unlike monuments or artifacts, this form of heritage is "living" - passed down from generation to generation, constantly evolving as communities adapt to changing times. It helps foster a sense of belonging, encourages creativity, and promotes dialogue between cultures. Recognition through UNESCO's Lists helps raise awareness of the diversity of these traditions and encourages countries and communities to take action to safeguard and sustain them for the future.
December 2025 session
During its twentieth session, the Committee will examine 68 nominations submitted by 78 countries (some of them being multinational ones) around the world for possible inscription to UNESCO's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Consult the full list of nominations here.
About the Lists of the Convention
Under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO maintains three international Lists that highlight and promote the diversity of living heritage worldwide, and more importantly reflecting the efforts undertaken to safeguard it. They currently include 788 elements practised in 150 countries.
- The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity recognizes and promotes the diversity of cultural practices and know-how carried out by communities. It currently includes 788 elements practiced in 150 countries.
- The Committee will review 54 nominations for this List (including 6 extension requests for elements previously inscribed to include additional countries or communities within the same country).
- The List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding identifies elements of living heritage whose viability is threatened and enables States Parties to the Convention to mobilize international cooperation and assistance needed to elaborate safeguarding measures.
- The Committee will review 11 nominations for this List.
- The Register of Good Safeguarding Practices highlights programmes, projects and activities that best reflect the principles and objectives of the Convention.
- The Committee will review one proposal for this Register.
Recognizing the positive impact of the safeguarding measures put in place for elements already inscribed , the Committee will also examine two requests for transfer from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates and Hezhen Yimakan storytelling in China.
This year's session includes 9 multinational nominations. Seven countries have potential first-time inscriptions: Barbados, Chad, Comoros, El Salvador, Gabon, Libya and Sao Tome and Principe.
Accreditation and inscription announcement
Journalists wishing to cover the twentieth session in person are invited toregister through the following link. Once your registration has been confirmed, please send details of your stay to the host country by emailing [email protected].
The Committee meeting will also be broadcast live online.
The decisions regarding the inscriptions will take place from 9 to 11 December (tentative).
