World Cities Day 2025: Creativity Unites 58 New Cities

On World Cities Day, UNESCO welcomed 58 new members into the Creative Cities Network (UCCN), recognizing their commitment to culture-led urban development. 

These cities span 7 creative fields—plus a new one: Architecture.

Meet the 2025 Creative Cities Cohort

Here are the newest cities shaping the future of creativity:

Literature 

• Aberystwyth

• Abuja 

• Celje

• Conakry

• Dumaguete City 

• Gdańsk 

• Kahramanmaraş 

• Lund 

• San Luis Potosí 

• Tangier

Gastronomy 

• Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah 

• Cuenca 

• Kelowna 

• Lucknow  

• Manizales 

• Matosinhos 

• Quanzhou 

• San Javier de Loncomilla 

• Songkhla 

• Zaragoza

Film 

• Giza 

• Ho Chi Minh City 

• Quezon City

• São Paulo

Music 

• Evian

• Kisumu 

• Korhogo 

• Kyiv 

• Lalitpur 

• Liège 

• New Orleans 

• Nikšić 

• Wuxi

Crafts & Folk Art 

• Andenne

• Bobo-Dioulasso 

• Cheongju City 

• Echizen City 

• Faenza 

• Hebron 

• Höhr-Grenzhausen 

• Lubango 

• Masaya 

• Nan 

• Ponorogo 

• Safi 

• Sarchí 

• Sifnos

Design 

• Daugavpils

• Kuala Lumpur 

• La Spezia

• Riyadh

Media Arts 

• Malang 

• Varna

Architecture (new category) 

• Bistrita 

• Kashan 

• Lusail 

• Quito 

• Rovaniemi

Philippine Pride: Dumaguete & Quezon City Shine

• Dumaguete City joins as a City of Literature, honoring its vibrant writing culture and literary institutions.

• Quezon City becomes a City of Film, spotlighting its dynamic audiovisual scene and storytelling legacy.

408 Cities, 1 Global Vision

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network just welcomed 58 new cities—bringing the total to 408 across 100+ countries. For the first time ever, Architecture joins the Network as a recognized creative field, alongside Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

Culture as a Catalyst

“Culture and creative industries are concrete drivers of development,” says UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. 

These cities aren’t just creative—they’re building inclusive economies, social cohesion, and local pride through culture-led innovation.

Spotlight: Abuja, Nigeria

Abuja joins the Network as a City of Literature, recognized for:

• Its vibrant literary infrastructure and action plan

• The Creative Writers Empowerment Workshop by the Nigerian Academy of Letters

• The Literacy by Radio program promoting reading across communities

Abuja’s designation reflects a deep commitment to literacy, cultural participation, and storytelling for all.

From São Paulo to Riyadh

The 2025 cohort is already making waves:

• São Paulo’s Affirmative Network uplifts cinema and audiovisual professionals

• Riyadh’s AlMashtal Creative Incubator nurtures innovation and entrepreneurship

These initiatives show how creative ecosystems can empower communities and shape the future of cities.

A Global Public GoodFresh from the MONDIACULT 2025 Conference, cities are answering UNESCO’s call to treat culture as a global public good—a shared resource for resilience, dignity, and sustainable development.