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 : 128 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 70 countries
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2024

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Betashar, traditional wedding ritualKazakhstan
K'cimi dancing of TropojëAlbania
Performing arts among the Twāyef of GhbontenTunisia
The Epic of Samba GueladioMauritania
Traditional knowledge and skills of sake-making with koji mold in JapanJapan

2023

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

XeedhoDjibouti

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Akhal-Teke horse breeding and traditions of horses' decorationTurkmenistan
Dabkeh, traditional dance in PalestineState of Palestine
Elechek, Kyrgyz female headwear: traditional knowledge and ritualsKyrgyzstan
Polonaise, traditional Polish dancePoland

2022

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Culture of Ukrainian borscht cookingUkraine
Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usageAlbania

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
Ancestral system of knowledge of the four indigenous peoples, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa of the Sierra Nevada de Santa MartaColombia
Crafting and playing the OudIran (Islamic Republic of) – Syrian Arab Republic
Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interactionAzerbaijan – Türkiye
Kalela danceZambia
Pyongyang Raengmyon customDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit – šljivovicaSerbia
Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja/ Molla Nesreddin/ Molla Ependi/ Apendi/ Afendi Kozhanasyr AnecdotesAzerbaijan – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan – Türkiye – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in ChinaChina

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
Tais, traditional textileTimor-Leste

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qudoud al-HalabiyaSyrian Arab Republic
Art of Xòe dance of the Tai people in Viet NamViet Nam
Kaustinen fiddle playing and related practices and expressions Finland
Malagasy Kabary, the Malagasy oratorical artMadagascar
SongketMalaysia
The art of embroidery in Palestine, practices, skills, knowledge and ritualsState of Palestine

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
Budima danceZambia
Camel racing, a social practice and a festive heritage associated with camelsUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Knowledge, know-how and practices pertaining to the production and consumption of couscousAlgeria – Mauritania – Morocco – Tunisia
PantunIndonesia – Malaysia

2019

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Sega tambour ChagosMauritius
Seperu folkdance and associated practicesBotswana

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

'Ie Samoa, fine mat and its cultural valueSamoa
Irish harpingIreland
Traditional skills of crafting and playing DotārIran (Islamic Republic of)
Traditional turkmen carpet making art in TurkmenistanTurkmenistan

2018

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

As-Samer in JordanJordan
Chakan, embroidery art in the Republic of TajikistanTajikistan
Dondang SayangMalaysia
Heritage of Dede Qorqud/Korkyt Ata/Dede Korkut, epic culture, folk tales and musicAzerbaijan – Kazakhstan – Türkiye
Međimurska popevka, a folksong from MeđimurjeCroatia

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Azi, art of performing praise, pride and fortitude poetryUnited Arab Emirates
Dikopelo folk music of Bakgatla ba Kgafela in Kgatleng DistrictBotswana
Taskiwin, martial dance of the western High AtlasMorocco

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Cultural practices associated to the 1st of MarchBulgaria – North Macedonia – Republic of Moldova – Romania
Kochari, traditional group danceArmenia
Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancingTurkmenistan
Multipart singing of HorehronieSlovakia
Spring celebration, HıdrellezNorth Macedonia – Türkiye
Uilleann pipingIreland

2016

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Chapei Dang VengCambodia
Ma'di bowl lyre music and danceUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Almezmar, drumming and dancing with sticksSaudi Arabia
Bhojpuri folk songs in Mauritius, Geet-GawaiMauritius
Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, YufkaAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan – Türkiye
Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the OromoEthiopia
Palov culture and traditionUzbekistan
Traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship in Romania and the Republic of MoldovaRomania – Republic of Moldova

2015

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Glasoechko, male two-part singing in Dolni PologNorth Macedonia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Razfa, a traditional performing artUnited Arab Emirates – Oman
Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Copper craftsmanship of LahijAzerbaijan
Lad’s dances in RomaniaRomania
Majlis, a cultural and social spaceUnited Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia – Oman – Qatar
Surova folk feast in Pernik regionBulgaria
Wititi dance of the Colca ValleyPeru

2014

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Isukuti dance of Isukha and Idakho communities of Western KenyaKenya

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Arirang folk song in the Democratic People’s Republic of KoreaDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Kopachkata, a social dance from the village of Dramche, PijanecNorth Macedonia
Lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in ArmeniaArmenia
Practices and expressions of joking relationships in NigerNiger

2013

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Turkish coffee culture and traditionTürkiye

2012

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak, art of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpetsKyrgyzstan

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea
Fest-Noz, festive gathering based on the collective practice of traditional dances of BrittanyFrance
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume tradition of TlemcenAlgeria

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Moorish epic T’heydinnMauritania

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Bećarac singing and playing from Eastern CroatiaCroatia
Ceremonial Keşkek traditionTürkiye
Mariachi, string music, song and trumpetMexico
Nijemo Kolo, silent circle dance of the Dalmatian hinterlandCroatia
Tsiattista poetic duellingCyprus

2010

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Bar’ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleysOman
FlamencoSpain
Gastronomic meal of the FrenchFrance
Gingerbread craft from Northern CroatiaCroatia
Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songsLithuania

2009

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Mongol Biyelgee, Mongolian traditional folk danceMongolia
Mongol Tuuli, Mongolian epicMongolia
Suiti cultural spaceLatvia
Traditional music of the TsuurMongolia
Traditions and practices associated with the Kayas in the sacred forests of the MijikendaKenya

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Azerbaijani AshiqAzerbaijan
Âşıklık (minstrelsy) traditionTürkiye
Chinese calligraphyChina
Chinese paper-cutChina
DoinaRomania
Gesar epic traditionChina
Indonesian BatikIndonesia
ManasChina
NanyinChina
Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing traditionEstonia
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from GorjaniCroatia
Two-part singing and playing in the Istrian scaleCroatia
Yueju operaChina

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ahellil of GouraraAlgeria
Al-Sirah Al-Hilaliyyah epicEgypt
Albanian folk iso-polyphonyAlbania
Azerbaijani MughamAzerbaijan
Canto a tenore, Sardinian pastoral songsItaly
Chopi TimbilaMozambique
Cultural space of Boysun DistrictUzbekistan
Cultural space of Palenque de San BasilioColombia
Darangen epic of the Maranao people of Lake LanaoPhilippines
Duduk and its musicArmenia
Gule WamkuluMalawi – Mozambique – Zambia
Kihnu cultural spaceEstonia
Moussem of Tan-TanMorocco
Royal ballet of CambodiaCambodia
Song of Sana’aYemen
Urtiin Duu, traditional folk long songChina – Mongolia
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