UNESCO Creative Cities Network conference to take place in Bukhara in 2027
AKIPRESS.COM – Bukhara will host the 19th annual conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2027. The city will become the first in Central Asia, the CIS and the Organization of Turkic States to host this international event, the Art and Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan reported.
Bukhara will take over the hosting duties from the Moroccan city of Essaouira.
The UCCN brings together 408 member cities from over 100 countries, recognized for their active role in developing creative industries and culture.
The initiative to hold the conference in Bukhara was proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during the opening of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand on October 30, 2025.
According to UNESCO, the conference will bring together urban administrators, representatives from the creative industries, and experts to discuss the development of the creative economy and ways to harness the cultural potential of cities, including through the integration of culture into economic and social development planning.
The event will feature high-level sessions, thematic discussions, cultural activities, and a Forum of Mayors.
The conference is scheduled to take place in the same year as the second Bukhara Biennale. Hosting both events will allow experts from various countries to gather in Bukhara and will expand opportunities for international cooperation, the Foundation noted.
