From 8 to 13 December, UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage met in New Delhi, India, and approved the inscription of 67 cultural practices proposed by 77 countries.

The newly inscribed elements include:

• 11 elements placed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;

• 53 elements added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity;

• 1 programme selected for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

Thanks to effective safeguarding measures, two elements were transferred from the Urgent Safeguarding List to the Representative List, demonstrating tangible progress in heritage protection.

With these additions, UNESCO’s Living Heritage Lists now include 849 cultural practices across 157 countries worldwide.

This session was the largest ever held, bringing together more than 1,400 participants. It also marked the first inscription for seven countries: Barbados, Chad, the Comoros, El Salvador, Gabon, Libya, and Sao Tome and Principe. Nine nominations were multinational, jointly submitted by 28 countries, highlighting the growing role of international cooperation.

A key theme of the 2025 session was traditional craftsmanship – practices rooted in skilled handwork, precise knowledge and cultural meaning. Beyond their symbolic value, many of these traditions provide sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

The next Committee meeting will take place in December 2026 in Xiamen, China.