PARIS, October 31. /Dunyo IA/. Bukhara will host the 19th annual conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2027, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

UNESCO has officially announced the Uzbek city as the venue for this major international event. The initiative to hold the conference in Bukhara was put forward by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the opening of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in October 2025.

This decision represents international recognition of Uzbekistan’s efforts to promote culture, develop creative industries, and advance sustainable urban development. Bukhara will become the first city in Central Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Organization of Turkic States to host the annual conference of this international network.

The forum will focus on the development of creative industries, the preservation and contemporary use of cultural heritage, support for young people and creative professionals, and the contribution of culture to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The event is expected to create additional opportunities to promote Uzbekistan’s tourism and cultural potential, expand international cooperation, and attract new partners and investment to the cultural and creative economy sectors.

Bukhara has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993. In 2023, the city joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Art, reaffirming its status as one of the leading centers of traditional craftsmanship and cultural exchange.

Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network brings together 408 cities from more than 110 countries. It serves as an international platform for cooperation, recognizing culture and creativity as drivers of sustainable socioeconomic development.

The annual conference is the network’s flagship event, bringing together representatives of member cities to exchange experience, discuss the development of creative industries, and strengthen international partnerships.

Representatives of hundreds of creative cities from around the world, municipal leaders, experts, cultural organizations, creative industry professionals, and international institutions are expected to attend the event in Bukhara. The program traditionally includes plenary sessions, a Mayors’ Forum, thematic discussions, presentations of international projects, partnership-building meetings, and creative city fairs.