The World Heritage Committee concluded its 48th session in Busan, Republic of Korea, by adding 25 new sites to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. All inscriptions were made by consensus, highlighting the cooperative nature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention. This session marks the first inscriptions for Comoros, São Tomé and Príncipe, and South Sudan, emphasizing UNESCO’s dedication to a more balanced World Heritage List. Six sites were also added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, recognizing their value and the need for protection.
Congratulations are extended to all countries and communities for the inscription of new UNESCO World Heritage sites, which represent humanity’s shared heritage and demonstrate the spirit of cooperation integral to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. Inscribing a site is just the beginning of a commitment to its protection and management. UNESCO is committed to ensuring the World Heritage List reflects global diversity, adopting the World Heritage Strategy for Small Island Developing States 2026–2034, and supporting the 23 State Parties without inscribed sites.
Currently, the UNESCO World Heritage List includes 1,273 sites across 173 countries. Newly inscribed properties receive the highest international recognition and protection. More details on the inscribed sites can be found here.
Emphasizing underrepresented regions, the Committee inscribed 25 new properties (19 cultural, five natural, and one mixed); extended two existing sites, including the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (Phase II), and renominated Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for re-examination.
Significant first-time inscriptions for three African countries, including two Small Island Developing States (Comoros and São Tomé and Príncipe) and South Sudan, were made. The President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, celebrated this historical milestone, reducing the number of countries without a World Heritage property from 26 to 23.
With 196 States Parties, the World Heritage Convention is one of the most universally ratified, indicative of its global impact. The session was characterized by dialogue and a consensus culture, enabling unanimous inscription decisions and fostering harmony across the Committee’s work.
The session highlighted the international community’s mobilization to protect World Heritage in danger. Three sites were inscribed on an emergency basis: Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (South Sudan), Mount Amel Castles (Lebanon), and Sebastia (State of Palestine). These sites, along with three others, were added to the List of World Heritage in Danger, gaining access to support for conservation efforts.
The Historic Centre of Vienna (Austria) was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.
A landmark strategy for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was adopted, with a US$13 million-backed World Heritage Strategy for SIDS 2026-2034 aiming to enhance their capacity to manage Heritage sites while addressing climate change impacts.
Complementing the Africa strategy, this SIDS Strategy supports heritage as a driver of sustainable development, climate resilience, and inclusion, involving local communities in protecting heritage diversity.
Khaled El-Enany, UNESCO Director-General, praised the session’s progress, celebrating the first sites in three African countries, first inscriptions for two SIDS, and the adoption of the SIDS Strategy as examples of multilateral cooperation. He thanked all parties involved for contributing to a more diverse World Heritage List and ensuring responsibility for its preservation.
Since 2023, the World Heritage List includes “sites of memory” to honor significant events. The Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944 (France) were designated as sites of memory, commemorating the Allied landings of June 6, 1944.
The next World Heritage Committee session will be held in 2027 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
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