Türkiye to host UNESCO World Heritage session in Istanbul in 2027 – Türkiye Today
Türkiye to host UNESCO World Heritage session in Istanbul in 2027
Frontal view of Hagia Sophia during sunset. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Türkiye will host the 49th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the country’s Foreign Ministry announced.
The committee is the decision-making body responsible for implementing the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The session is expected to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye’s largest city, from June 27 to July 7, 2027.
The decision was made unanimously during the committee’s 48th session, held in Busan, South Korea. At the same meeting, Türkiye’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO Ambassador Mustafa Yurdakul was elected chair of the 49th session.
Gobeklitepe, described as the “zero point of history” and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, continues to attract visitors and support local tourism in the region in Sanliurfa, Türkiye, July 2, 2025. (AA Photo)
Committee background
The World Heritage Committee consists of 21 member states elected for four-year terms. Itdetermines new inscriptions for the World Heritage List, reviews the conservation status of designated sites, and decides on additions to the List of World Heritage in Danger. The body also manages the World Heritage Fund and coordinates international efforts to protect locations recognized for their “Outstanding Universal Value.”
Türkiye, which currently boasts 22 cultural and mixed sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, was elected to the committee for the 2023–2027 term after securing a high vote count in 2023. Officials noted that hosting the session and holding the committee chairmanship will significantly elevate Türkiye’s role in cultural diplomacy while boosting the international profile of its diverse cultural and natural heritage.
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