Bukhara’s crafts heritage puts Uzbekistan in spotlight for 2027 UNESCO conference
Uzbekistan’s Bukhara will host the 19th UNESCO Creative Cities Network conference in 2027, bringing together representatives of Creative Cities, cultural practitioners and international experts alongside the return of the Bukhara Biennial, as the historic Silk Road city showcases its traditional craftsmanship and contemporary arts scene.
Bukhara’s crafts heritage puts Uzbekistan in spotlight for 2027 UNESCO conference
Bukhara is set to host the UNESCO Creative Cities Network’s annual conference in 2027, bringing the historic Silk Road city to the center of an international agenda devoted to craftsmanship, cultural exchange and creative industries.
The 19th edition of the conference will gather representatives of UNESCO Creative Cities, among them municipal officials, artists, cultural practitioners and international experts.
The bid to host the conference was presented by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on October 30, 2025, at the opening of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand. Uzbekistan hosted the session for the first time in 40 years outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris.
Bukhara’s choice reflects its status as a hub of traditional craftsmanship. The city was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993 and became part of the Creative Cities Network in the Crafts and Folk Art category in 2023. Its long-established artisanal traditions include gold embroidery, ceramics, jewelry making and wood carving.
The international event will be held alongside the Bukhara Biennial, which is due to return for its second edition from September 3 to November 21, 2027. The event will be led artistically by Kulapat Yantrasast.
The inaugural biennial, staged in 2025, drew more than 1.5mn visitors over 10 weeks and included more than 70 contemporary art projects. Its program brought international artists and curators together with local craftspeople, linking traditional techniques with contemporary artistic practices.
Organizers say the two events are expected to form a wider platform for cooperation among cultural institutions, creative professionals and city administrations, while also creating opportunities for international partnerships and knowledge exchange.
The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF), founded in 2017, works to promote the country’s cultural heritage and support its contemporary arts sector. The foundation has partnered with more than 40 international institutions, including the Louvre, the Uffizi Galleries, the British Museum and the Palace Museum in Beijing. Its projects have drawn more than 5mn visitors across 17 countries.
Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network encourages cities to integrate creativity and cultural industries into their sustainable development strategies. Its annual conference moves between member cities and serves as a forum for cultural policy, urban development and international cooperation.
The 2026 conference is set for Essaouira, Morocco, from November 25 to 27. The meeting will center on “Cultural Innovation for Integrated Sustainable Urban Development.”