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.







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Results : 86 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 55 countries
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2023

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Bolero: identity, emotion and poetry turned into songCuba – Mexico
Dabkeh, traditional dance in PalestineState of Palestine
Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressionsMauritania
Malhun, a popular poetic and musical artMorocco
Sadeh/Sada celebrationIran (Islamic Republic of) – Tajikistan

2022

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Alheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocksSaudi Arabia – Oman – United Arab Emirates
Pyongyang Raengmyon customDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Raï, popular folk song of AlgeriaAlgeria
Yaldā/ChellaIran (Islamic Republic of) – Afghanistan

2021

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qudoud al-HalabiyaSyrian Arab Republic
FalakTajikistan
FjiriBahrain
Hüsn-i Hat, traditional calligraphy in Islamic art in TurkeyTürkiye
Nora, dance drama in southern ThailandThailand
Pasillo, song and poetryEcuador

2020

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Camel racing, a social practice and a festive heritage associated with camelsUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
ChamaméArgentina
PantunIndonesia – Malaysia

2019

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Irish harpingIreland
Morna, musical practice of Cabo VerdeCabo Verde

2018

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Shadow playSyrian Arab Republic

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

As-Samer in JordanJordan
Dondang SayangMalaysia
Horse and camel ArdhahOman
Khon, masked dance drama in ThailandThailand

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Azi, art of performing praise, pride and fortitude poetryUnited Arab Emirates

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancingTurkmenistan
PuntoCuba

2016

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Chapei Dang VengCambodia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, NavruzAfghanistan – Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Iraq – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Pakistan – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan – Türkiye

2015

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Koogere oral tradition of the Basongora, Banyabindi and Batooro peoplesUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisationKazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan
Al-Razfa, a traditional performing artUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Marimba music, traditional chants and dances from the Colombia South Pacific region and Esmeraldas Province of EcuadorColombia – Ecuador
Sbuâ, annual pilgrimage to the zawiya of Sidi El Hadj Belkacem in GouraraAlgeria

2014

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab EmiratesOman – United Arab Emirates
Al-Zajal, recited or sung poetryLebanon
Cante Alentejano, polyphonic singing from Alentejo, southern PortugalPortugal
Ritual and ceremonies of Sebeïba in the oasis of Djanet, AlgeriaAlgeria
Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ TĩnhViet Nam

2013

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Chinese Zhusuan, knowledge and practices of mathematical calculation through the abacusChina
Practices and knowledge linked to the Imzad of the Tuareg communities of Algeria, Mali and NigerAlgeria – Mali – Niger

2012

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al ‘azi, elegy, processional march and poetryOman
Al-Taghrooda, traditional Bedouin chanted poetry in the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of OmanUnited Arab Emirates – Oman

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Chinese shadow puppetryChina
Fado, urban popular song of PortugalPortugal
Jultagi, tightrope walkingRepublic of Korea
Tsiattista poetic duellingCyprus

2010

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Wooden movable-type printing of ChinaChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Bar’ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleysOman
Gagok, lyric song cycles accompanied by an orchestraRepublic of Korea
Kalbelia folk songs and dances of RajasthanIndia
Kumiodori, traditional Okinawan musical theatreJapan
Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of KeralaIndia
Peking operaChina
Pirekua, traditional song of the P’urhépechaMexico
Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songsLithuania

2009

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ca trù singingViet Nam

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Azerbaijani AshiqAzerbaijan
Âşıklık (minstrelsy) traditionTürkiye
DoinaRomania
Dragon Boat festivalChina
GagakuJapan
Grand song of the Dong ethnic groupChina
Katta AshulaUzbekistan
MaloyaFrance
Procession Za Krizen (‘following the cross’) on the island of HvarCroatia
TangoArgentina – Uruguay
YeongsanjaeRepublic of Korea

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ahellil of GouraraAlgeria
Baul songsBangladesh
Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songsItaly
Cultural space of the Yaaral and DegalMali
Gangneung Danoje festivalRepublic of Korea
Ifa divination systemNigeria
Iraqi MaqamIraq
Lakalaka, dances and sung speeches of TongaTonga
Mevlevi Sema ceremonyTürkiye
Moussem of Tan-TanMorocco
Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo of BahiaBrazil
Shashmaqom musicUzbekistan – Tajikistan
Song of Sana’aYemen
Tradition of Vedic chantingIndia
Uyghur Muqam of XinjiangChina
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