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 : 170 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 104 countries
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2024

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Reog Ponorogo performing artIndonesia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosityUnited Arab Emirates – Oman – Qatar – Saudi Arabia – Jordan
Art of crafting and playing rubab/rababAfghanistan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Tajikistan – Uzbekistan
Betashar, traditional wedding ritualKazakhstan
Craftsmanship of traditional woven textile KenteGhana
Csárdás dance traditionHungary
Cultural practices and expressions linked to Balafon and Kolintang in Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and IndonesiaMali – Burkina Faso – Côte d'Ivoire – Indonesia
Durbar in KanoNigeria
Festival of Bà Chúa Xứ Goddess at Sam MountainViet Nam
Fonelamvonglao (lamvonglao)Lao People's Democratic Republic
Funfair cultureBelgium – France
Guarania, sound of Paraguayan soulParaguay
IntoreRwanda
K'cimi dancing of TropojëAlbania
Living pictures of Galeras, SucreColombia
Mangwengwe danceZambia
Manual bell ringingSpain – Italy
Messosporitissa Festivity (All-holy Mother of God of the Mid-Sowing Season Festivity), Feast of Our Lady at the Ancient RuinsGreece
Myanmar traditional New Year Atā Thingyan festivalMyanmar
Nawrouz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, NavruzAfghanistan – Azerbaijan – India – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Iraq – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan – Pakistan – Tajikistan – Türkiye – Turkmenistan – Mongolia
Ngondo, worship of water oracles and associated cultural traditions among the SawaCameroon
Pilgrimage to Watt TownJamaica
Sevdalinka, traditional urban folk songBosnia and Herzegovina
Shakespeare Mas', a traditional component of Carriacou's annual carnivalGrenada
Spring festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new yearChina
Technique of making the giant kites of Santiago Sacatepéquez and Sumpango, GuatemalaGuatemala
The Epic of Samba GueladioMauritania
Xeer Ciise: Oral customary laws of Somali-Issa communities in Ethiopia, Djibouti and SomaliaEthiopia – Djibouti – Somalia

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Oman Youth Sail Training Ship (Safinat Shabab Oman) programme for peace and sustainable cultural dialogueOman

2023

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ingoma Ya MapikoMozambique
XeedhoDjibouti

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ch'utillos, the Festival of San Bartolomé and San Ignacio de Loyola, the meeting of cultures in PotosíBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Hiragasy, a performing art of the Central Highlands of MadagascarMadagascar
Malhun, a popular poetic and musical artMorocco
Nguon, rituals of governance and associated expressions in the Bamoun communityCameroon
Sadeh/Sada celebrationIran (Islamic Republic of) – Tajikistan
Sango Festival, OyoNigeria
Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festivalThailand

2022

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ancestral system of knowledge of the four indigenous peoples, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa of the Sierra Nevada de Santa MartaColombia
Yaldā/ChellaIran (Islamic Republic of) – Afghanistan

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Portuguese-Galician border ICH: a safeguarding model created by Ponte...nas ondas!Portugal – Spain

2021

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Cultural practices and expressions linked to the 'M’Bolon', a traditional musical percussion instrumentMali

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qudoud al-HalabiyaSyrian Arab Republic
Congolese rumbaDemocratic Republic of the Congo – Congo
Corso culture, flower and fruit parades in the NetherlandsNetherlands (Kingdom of the)
Cultural Heritage of Boka Navy Kotor: a festive representation of a memory and cultural identityMontenegro
Dances and expressions associated with the Corpus Christi FestivityPanama
Festive cycle around the devotion and worship towards Saint John the Baptist Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Flower carpets tradition for Corpus Christi processionsPoland
Inuit drum dancing and singingDenmark
Namur stilt joustingBelgium

2020

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Aboxan Musik ǀŌb ǂÂns tsî ǁKhasigu, ancestral musical sound knowledge and skillsNamibia

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
Art of miniatureAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Uzbekistan
Budima danceZambia
Camel racing, a social practice and a festive heritage associated with camelsUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
ChamaméArgentina
Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscousAlgeria – Mauritania – Morocco – Tunisia
Musical art of horn players, an instrumental technique linked to singing, breath control, vibrato, resonance of place and convivialityFrance – Belgium – Luxembourg – Italy
Ong Chun/Wangchuan/Wangkang ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the oceanChina – Malaysia
PantunIndonesia – Malaysia
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
Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Polyphonic Caravan, researching, safeguarding and promoting the Epirus polyphonic songGreece

2019

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Buklog, thanksgiving ritual system of the SubanenPhilippines
Rituals and practices associated with Kit Mikayi shrineKenya
Sega tambour ChagosMauritius
Seperu folkdance and associated practicesBotswana
Spring rite of Juraŭski KarahodBelarus

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Armenian letter art and its cultural expressionsArmenia
Celestinian forgiveness celebrationItaly
Cultural Complex of Bumba-meu-boi from MaranhãoBrazil
Ethiopian epiphanyEthiopia
GnawaMorocco
Holy Week processions in MendrisioSwitzerland
Irish harpingIreland
Kwagh-Hir theatrical performanceNigeria
Morna, musical practice of Cabo VerdeCabo Verde
Ommegang of Brussels, an annual historical procession and popular festivalBelgium
Practice of traditional music and dance in Setesdal, playing, dancing and singing (stev/stevjing)Norway
Provision of services and hospitality during the Arba'in visitationIraq
The festival of the Santísima Trinidad del Señor Jesús del Gran Poder in the city of La PazBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Traditional Turkish archeryTürkiye
Winter festivities, Carnival of PodencePortugal

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Safeguarding strategy of traditional crafts for peace buildingColombia

2018

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Enkipaata, Eunoto and Olng'esherr, three male rites of passage of the Maasai communityKenya
Knowledge and skills of the water measurers of the foggaras or water bailiffs of Touat and TidikeltAlgeria

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ritual and festive expressions of the Congo culturePanama
Traditional Korean wrestling (Ssirum/Ssireum)Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – Republic of Korea

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Land-of-Legends programme, for promoting and revitalizing the art of storytelling in Kronoberg RegionSweden

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Taskiwin, martial dance of the western High AtlasMorocco

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Kumbh MelaIndia
Sega tambour of Rodrigues IslandMauritius
Traditional system of Corongo’s water judgesPeru

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Bulgarian Chitalishte (Community Cultural Centre): practical experience in safeguarding the vitality of the Intangible Cultural HeritageBulgaria

2016

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ma'di bowl lyre music and danceUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Argungu international fishing and cultural festivalNigeria
Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the OromoEthiopia
Khidr Elias feast and its vowsIraq
Mangal Shobhajatra on Pahela BaishakhBangladesh
Tahteeb, stick gameEgypt
Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in JapanJapan

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Festival of folklore in Koprivshtitsa: a system of practices for heritage presentation and transmissionBulgaria

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

Epic art of GoroglyTurkmenistan
Fichee-Chambalaalla, New Year festival of the Sidama peopleEthiopia
Majlis, a cultural and social spaceUnited Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia – Oman – Qatar
Oshituthi shomagongo, marula fruit festivalNamibia
Summer solstice fire festivals in the PyreneesAndorra – Spain – France
Wititi dance of the Colca ValleyPeru

2014

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Mapoyo oral tradition and its symbolic reference points within their ancestral territoryVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Zajal, recited or sung poetryLebanon
Cante Alentejano, polyphonic singing from Alentejo, southern PortugalPortugal
Capoeira circleBrazil
Gwoka: music, song, dance and cultural practice representative of Guadeloupean identityFrance
Practices and expressions of joking relationships in NigerNiger
Ritual and ceremonies of Sebeïba in the oasis of Djanet, AlgeriaAlgeria

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Safeguarding the carillon culture: preservation, transmission, exchange and awareness-raisingBelgium

2013

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Empaako tradition of the Batooro, Banyoro, Batuku, Batagwenda and Banyabindi of western UgandaUganda
Mongolian calligraphyMongolia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Kyrgyz epic trilogy: Manas, Semetey, SeytekKyrgyzstan
Men’s group Colindat, Christmas-time ritualRepublic of Moldova – Romania
Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of ManipurIndia
Xooy, a divination ceremony among the Serer of Senegal Senegal

2012

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir, IndiaIndia
Festival of Saint Francis of Assisi, QuibdóColombia
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-MeuseBelgium
Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'Armenia
Worship of Hùng kings in Phú ThọViet Nam

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Hezhen Yimakan storytellingChina
Moorish epic T’heydinnMauritania

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Leuven age set ritual repertoireBelgium
Ride of the Kings in the south-east of the Czech RepublicCzechia
Sada Shin Noh, sacred dancing at Sada shrine, ShimaneJapan
Tsiattista poetic duellingCyprus

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Call for projects of the National Programme of Intangible HeritageBrazil
Fandango's Living MuseumBrazil
Programme of cultivating ludodiversity: safeguarding traditional games in FlandersBelgium

2010

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

MeshrepChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Bar’ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleysOman
Hopping procession of EchternachLuxembourg
Indonesian AngklungIndonesia
Kırkpınar oil wrestling festivalTürkiye
Mongolian traditional art of KhöömeiMongolia
Music of the Bakhshis of KhorasanIran (Islamic Republic of)
Naadam, Mongolian traditional festivalMongolia
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei ritualsIran (Islamic Republic of)
Pirekua, traditional song of the P’urhépechaMexico
Traditional Sohbet meetingsTürkiye
Wayuu normative system, applied by the Pütchipü’üi (palabrero)Colombia

2009

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Candombe and its socio-cultural space: a community practiceUruguay
Carnaval de Negros y BlancosColombia
CheoyongmuRepublic of Korea
Irrigators’ tribunals of the Spanish Mediterranean coast: the Council of Wise Men of the plain of Murcia and the Water Tribunal of the plain of ValenciaSpain
MaloyaFrance
Manden Charter, proclaimed in Kurukan FugaMali
Septennial re-roofing ceremony of the Kamablon, sacred house of KangabaMali
TangoArgentina – Uruguay
YeongsanjaeRepublic of Korea

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Carnival of OruroBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Cultural space and oral culture of the SemeiskieRussian Federation
Cultural space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa MellaDominican Republic
Cultural space of the Yaaral and DegalMali
Darangen epic of the Maranao people of Lake LanaoPhilippines
Gbofe of Afounkaha, the music of the transverse trumps of the Tagbana communityCôte d'Ivoire
Kun Qu operaChina
Lakalaka, dances and sung speeches of TongaTonga
Maroon heritage of Moore TownJamaica
Royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo shrine and its musicRepublic of Korea
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