Bukhara Seeks Host Bid for UNESCO 2027 Conference

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —The Permanent Delegation of Uzbekistan to UNESCO held an online meeting with Denis Bax, Head of the Secretariat of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and organization expert Qiaobo Ni.

The main topic of the talks was the preparation of Uzbekistan’s application to host the 19th Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Bukhara in 2027.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO, the Foundation for Development of Culture and Arts, as well as officials from the Bukhara regional and city administrations.

The Uzbek side recalled that the initiative to host the international conference in Bukhara was put forward by the President of Uzbekistan during the opening of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand in October 2025. The proposal was later included in a roadmap of cooperation between Uzbekistan and UNESCO signed on April 8, 2026.

During the talks, it was noted that the conference could bring together more than 800 participants from over 400 cities that are members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Tashkent believes that hosting the forum in Bukhara would confirm the country’s commitment to UNESCO programs and support for culture, creativity, and sustainable urban development.

Special attention was given to the cultural potential of Bukhara. The city has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1993 and joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023. Participants emphasized that Bukhara has historically served as a center of interaction between civilizations, with strong traditions in architecture, literature, music, crafts, and other arts.

It was also noted that the city continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for creative industries and international cultural projects, including the Bukhara Biennial of contemporary art held in 2025.

The sides discussed the preparation of a comprehensive application for Bukhara’s bid to host the conference. UNESCO representatives provided guidance on selection criteria and key requirements for the application process.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network Secretariat expressed readiness to continue cooperation with Uzbekistan and to provide expert support during the preparation of the bid.