On World Cities Day 2025, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay designated 58 cities as new members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
Recognized for their commitment to championing creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development, these cities bring their proven expertise in building resilient and vibrant communities to the Network.
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30 October 2025 Last update:31 October 2025
Cities that joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2025 are:
- Aberystwyth - Literature
- Abuja - Literature
- Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah - Gastronomy
- Andenne - Crafts and Folk Art
- Bistrita - Architecture
- Bobo-Dioulasso - Crafts and Folk Art
- Celje - Literature
- Cheongju City - Crafts and Folk Art
- Conakry - Literature
- Cuenca - Gastronomy
- Daugavpils - Design
- Dumaguete City - Literature
- Echizen City - Crafts and Folk Art
- Evian - Music
- Faenza - Crafts and Folk Art
- Gdańsk - Literature
- Giza - Film
- Hebron - Crafts and Folk Art
- Ho Chi Minh City - Film
- Höhr-Grenzhausen - Crafts and Folk Art
- Kahramanmaraş - Literature
- Kashan - Architecture
- Kelowna - Gastronomy
- Kisumu - Music
- Korhogo - Music
- Kuala Lumpur - Design
- Kyiv - Music
- La Spezia - Design
- Lalitpur - Music
- Liège - Music
- Lubango - Crafts and Folk Art
- Lucknow - Gastronomy
- Lund - Literature
- Lusail - Architecture
- Malang - Media Arts
- Manizales - Gastronomy
- Masaya - Crafts and Folk Art
- Matosinhos - Gastronomy
- Nan - Crafts and Folk Art
- New Orleans - Music
- Nikšić - Music
- Ponorogo - Crafts and Folk Art
- Quanzhou - Gastronomy
- Quezon City - Film
- Quito - Architecture
- Riyadh - Design
- Rovaniemi - Architecture
- Safi - Crafts and Folk Art
- San Javier de Loncomilla - Gastronomy
- San Luis Potosí - Literature
- São Paulo - Film
- Sarchí - Crafts and Folk Art
- Sifnos - Crafts and Folk Art
- Songkhla - Gastronomy
- Tangier - Literature
- Varna - Media Arts
- Wuxi - Music
- Zaragoza - Gastronomy
With these new designations, the Network now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries. For the first time, the UCCN welcomes Creative Cities of Architecture—a new creative field in addition to the seven existing ones: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
"UNESCO Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative industries can be concrete drivers of development. By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a Network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investments, and promote social cohesion." - Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General
Since its launch in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities have actively promoted human-centred urban living and governance, offering a wide range of cultural and creative activities to their citizens.
From Sao Paulo’s Affirmative Network of Cinema and Audiovisual Professionals to the AlMashtal Creative Incubator in Riyadh, the 2025 cohort of Creative Cities is already making meaningful contributions to the UCCN mission, marking the beginning of their long-term dedication to the Network.
Following the success of MONDIACULT 2025 Conference, where countries renewed their commitment to culture-led sustainable development, the cities will respond to UNESCO’s call to establish culture as a global public good.
Following the success of MONDIACULT 2025 Conference, where countries renewed their commitment to culture-led sustainable development, the cities will respond to UNESCO’s call to establish culture as a global public good.
Source: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-cities-day-2025-unesco-creative-cities-network-welcomes-58-new-member-cities