Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices

The Committee meets annually to evaluate nominations proposed by States Parties to the 2003 Convention and decide whether or not to inscribe those cultural practices and expressions of intangible heritage on the Convention’s Lists.

By clicking on the inscribed elements listed below, you can discover the nominations, photos and videos, together with Committee decisions and evidence of community consent.

You may also experience a conceptual, visual and interactive navigation through ‘Dive into Intangible Cultural Heritage’ interfaces which demonstrate the thematic interconnectedness between all the elements inscribed and their relation to nature or to threats.


The nomination files submitted by the States Parties are published by the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention on its website in compliance with paragraph 54 of the Operational Directives regarding the nomination procedure; moreover, the information included in the nominations is reflected in working documents of the Committee in order to ensure transparency and access to information.


The sole responsibility for the content of each nomination file lies with the submitting States Parties concerned. The designations employed in the texts and documents presented by the submitting States Parties do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Committee nor UNESCO concerning a) the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, b) the legal status of its authorities, c) the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or d) references to specific historical events.







More criteria

Results : 181 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 97 countries
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2023

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ancestral and traditional techniques for the elaboration of the 'Poncho Para'i de 60 Listas', from the city of Piribebuy, Republic of ParaguayParaguay
Mek MulungMalaysia
Traditional Syrian glassblowingSyrian Arab Republic
XeedhoDjibouti

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Aklan piña handloom weavingPhilippines
Al-Man’ouché, an emblematic culinary practice in LebanonLebanon
Alpine pasture seasonSwitzerland
Bolero: identity, emotion and poetry turned into songCuba – Mexico
Ceramic arts in UzbekistanUzbekistan
Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban/meyAzerbaijan – Türkiye
Dabkeh, traditional dance in PalestineState of Palestine
Elechek, Kyrgyz female headwear: traditional knowledge and ritualsKyrgyzstan
Harees dish: know-how, skills and practicesUnited Arab Emirates – Oman – Saudi Arabia
Hiragasy, a performing art of the Central Highlands of MadagascarMadagascar
Iftar/Eftari/Iftar/Iftor and its socio-cultural traditionsAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Uzbekistan
Jamu wellness cultureIndonesia
Nguon, rituals of governance and associated expressions in the Bamoun communityCameroon
Polonaise, traditional Polish dancePoland
Practices and meanings associated with the preparation and consumption of ceviche, an expression of Peruvian traditional cuisinePeru
Procession and celebrations of Prophet Mohammed's birthday in SudanSudan
Rickshaws and rickshaw painting in DhakaBangladesh
Shuwalid festivalEthiopia
Sodai straw garden making in LithuaniaLithuania
Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festivalThailand
Tradition of blacksmithing in GyumriArmenia
Traditional craft of Naga motif weaving in Lao communitiesLao People's Democratic Republic
Traditional craft skills and arts of Al-Mudhif buildingIraq
Traditional skills of loincloth weaving in Côte d’IvoireCôte d'Ivoire
Transhumance, the seasonal droving of livestockAlbania – Andorra – Austria – Croatia – France – Greece – Italy – Luxembourg – Romania – Spain

2022

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Art of pottery-making of Chăm peopleViet Nam
Culture of Ukrainian borscht cookingUkraine
Quinchamalí and Santa Cruz de Cuca potteryChile

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al Talli, traditional embroidery skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practicesOman
Al-Mansaf in Jordan, a festive banquet and its social and cultural meaningsJordan
Alheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocksSaudi Arabia – Oman – United Arab Emirates
Bear festivities in the PyreneesAndorra – France
Beekeeping in Slovenia, a way of lifeSlovenia
Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interactionAzerbaijan – Türkiye
Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in EgyptEgypt
Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practicesTunisia
Holy Week in GuatemalaGuatemala
Hungarian string band traditionHungary
Knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beansSaudi Arabia
Kun Lbokator, traditional martial arts in CambodiaCambodia
Manual bell ringingSpain
Pyongyang Raengmyon customDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weavingAfghanistan – Azerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan
Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit – šljivovicaSerbia
Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skillsBelarus
The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altiţă) — an element of cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of MoldovaRomania – Republic of Moldova
Turkmen-style needlework artTurkmenistan – Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Yaldā/ChellaIran (Islamic Republic of) – Afghanistan

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Al Sadu Educational Programme: Train the trainers in the art of weavingKuwait
Strategy for safeguarding traditional crafts: The Bearers of Folk Craft Tradition programmeCzechia

2021

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Joumou soupHaiti

2020

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed)Egypt
Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and NariñoColombia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of crafting and playing Mbira/Sansi, the finger-plucking traditional musical instrument in Malawi and ZimbabweMalawi – Zimbabwe
ChamaméArgentina
Charfia fishing in the Kerkennah IslandsTunisia
Grass mowing competition custom in KupresBosnia and Herzegovina
Handmade production of Christmas tree decorations from blown glass beadsCzechia
Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscousAlgeria – Mauritania – Morocco – Tunisia
Nar Bayrami, traditional pomegranate festivity and cultureAzerbaijan
Pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus Apostle MonasteryIran (Islamic Republic of) – Armenia
Practices and traditional knowledge of Terere in the culture of Pohã Ñana, Guaraní ancestral drink in ParaguayParaguay
Sauna culture in FinlandFinland
The art of glass beadsItaly – France
Traditional weaving of Al SaduSaudi Arabia – Kuwait
Tree beekeeping culturePoland – Belarus

2019

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Buklog, thanksgiving ritual system of the SubanenPhilippines

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

'Ie Samoa, fine mat and its cultural valueSamoa
Ak-kalpak craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and skills in making and wearing Kyrgyz men’s headwearKyrgyzstan
Drotárstvo, wire craft and artSlovakia
Morna, musical practice of Cabo VerdeCabo Verde
Winter festivities, Carnival of PodencePortugal

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Whistled languageTürkiye

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Neapolitan ‘Pizzaiuolo’Italy
Khaen music of the Lao peopleLao People's Democratic Republic
Ritual journeys in La Paz during AlasitaBolivia (Plurinational State of)
The art of Bài Chòi in Central Viet NamViet Nam
Traditional art of Shital Pati weaving of SylhetBangladesh
Uilleann pipingIreland

2016

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Cossack’s songs of Dnipropetrovsk RegionUkraine
Ma'di bowl lyre music and danceUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Bhojpuri folk songs in Mauritius, Geet-GawaiMauritius
Carnival of El Callao, a festive representation of a memory and cultural identityVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Charrería, equestrian tradition in MexicoMexico
Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, YufkaAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Türkiye
Palov culture and traditionUzbekistan
Puppetry in Slovakia and CzechiaSlovakia – Czechia
Rumba in Cuba, a festive combination of music and dances and all the practices associatedCuba
Škofja Loka passion playSlovenia
Tahteeb, stick gameEgypt
Traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship in Romania and the Republic of MoldovaRomania – Republic of Moldova
Winegrowers’ Festival in VeveySwitzerland

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Community project of safeguarding the living culture of Rovinj/Rovigno: the Batana EcomuseumCroatia
Oselvar boat - reframing a traditional learning process of building and use to a modern contextNorway

2015

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Coaxing ritual for camelsMongolia
Manufacture of cowbellsPortugal

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Razfa, a traditional performing artUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosityUnited Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia – Oman – Qatar
Bagpipe cultureSlovakia
Copper craftsmanship of LahijAzerbaijan
Fichee-Chambalaalla, New Year festival of the Sidama peopleEthiopia
Surova folk feast in Pernik regionBulgaria
Tradition of kimchi-making in the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Traditional knowledge and technologies relating to the growing and processing of the curaguaVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

2014

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Isukuti dance of Isukha and Idakho communities of Western KenyaKenya
Male-child cleansing ceremony of the Lango of central northern UgandaUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Zajal, recited or sung poetryLebanon
Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan treeMorocco
Arirang folk song in the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Askiya, the art of witUzbekistan
Cante Alentejano, polyphonic singing from Alentejo, southern PortugalPortugal
Know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of ChiosGreece
Lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in ArmeniaArmenia
Practices and expressions of joking relationships in NigerNiger
Slava, celebration of family saint patron’s daySerbia
The tradition of carpet-making in ChiprovtsiBulgaria
Traditional agricultural practice of cultivating the ‘vite ad alberello’ (head-trained bush vines) of the community of PantelleriaItaly
Traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, making and wearing women’s silk headscarvesAzerbaijan
Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, IndiaIndia
Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paperJapan

2013

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Nan Pa’ch ceremonyGuatemala

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Annual pilgrimage to the mausoleum of Sidi ‘Abd el-Qader Ben Mohammed (Sidi Cheikh)Algeria
Commemoration feast of the finding of the True Holy Cross of ChristEthiopia
Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs in ŠtipNorth Macedonia
Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea
Knowledge, skills and rituals related to the annual renewal of the Q’eswachaka bridgePeru
Limousin septennial ostensionsFrance
Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of the Ukrainian ornamental folk artUkraine
Shrimp fishing on horseback in OostduinkerkeBelgium
Traditional art of Jamdani weavingBangladesh
Washoku, traditional dietary cultures of the Japanese, notably for the celebration of New YearJapan

2012

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Earthenware pottery-making skills in Botswana’s Kgatleng DistrictBotswana

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Taghrooda, traditional Bedouin chanted poetry in the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of OmanUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea
Craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar, a long-necked string musical instrumentAzerbaijan
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-MeuseBelgium
Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'Armenia
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume tradition of TlemcenAlgeria
Traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hatEcuador

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Hezhen Yimakan storytellingChina
Saman danceIndonesia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Fado, urban popular song of PortugalPortugal

2010

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junksChina
Wooden movable-type printing of ChinaChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Armenian cross-stones art. Symbolism and craftsmanship of KhachkarsArmenia
FlamencoSpain
Gastronomic meal of the FrenchFrance
Gingerbread craft from Northern CroatiaCroatia
Houtem Jaarmarkt, annual winter fair and livestock market at Sint-Lievens-HoutemBelgium
Huaconada, ritual dance of MitoPeru
Music of the Bakhshis of KhorasanIran (Islamic Republic of)
Sinjska Alka, a knights’ tournament in SinjCroatia
Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songsLithuania
Traditional Mexican cuisine - ancestral, ongoing community culture, the Michoacán paradigmMexico
Traditional skills of carpet weaving in FarsIran (Islamic Republic of)
Traditional skills of carpet weaving in KashanIran (Islamic Republic of)
Wayuu normative system, applied by the Pütchipü’üi (palabrero)Colombia

2009

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ca trù singingViet Nam
Mongol Biyelgee, Mongolian traditional folk danceMongolia
Mongol Tuuli, Mongolian epicMongolia
Qiang New Year festivalChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Carnaval de Negros y BlancosColombia
Dainichido BugakuJapan
GagakuJapan
Lefkara laces or LefkaritikaCyprus
Procession Za Krizen (‘following the cross’) on the island of HvarCroatia
Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of ChinaChina
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from GorjaniCroatia
Traditional manufacturing of children’s wooden toys in Hrvatsko ZagorjeCroatia

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Cultural space and oral culture of the SemeiskieRussian Federation
Cultural space of Palenque de San BasilioColombia
Indigenous festivity dedicated to the deadMexico
Mbende Jerusarema danceZimbabwe
Opera dei Pupi, Sicilian puppet theatreItaly
Palestinian HikayeState of Palestine
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