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 : 160 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 80 countries
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2023

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Man’ouché, an emblematic culinary practice in LebanonLebanon
Ch'utillos, the Festival of San Bartolomé and San Ignacio de Loyola, the meeting of cultures in PotosíBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Elechek, Kyrgyz female headwear: traditional knowledge and ritualsKyrgyzstan
Garba of GujaratIndia
Harees dish: know-how, skills and practicesUnited Arab Emirates – Oman – Saudi Arabia
Iftar/Eftari/Iftar/Iftor and its socio-cultural traditionsAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Uzbekistan
Jamu wellness cultureIndonesia
Maltese Village Festa, an annual community celebrationMalta
Procession and celebrations of Prophet Mohammed's birthday in SudanSudan
Sadeh/Sada celebrationIran (Islamic Republic of) – Tajikistan
Sango Festival, OyoNigeria
Shuwalid festivalEthiopia
Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festivalThailand
Traditional craft skills and arts of Al-Mudhif buildingIraq

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Program for the safeguarding of the Bandos and Parrandas of the Holy Innocents of Caucagua: nuclei of initiation and transmission of wisdoms and community councilsVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

2022

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usageAlbania

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Khanjar, craft skills and social practicesOman
August 15th (Dekapentavgoustos) festivities in two Highland Communities of Northern Greece: Tranos Choros (Grand Dance) in Vlasti and Syrrako FestivalGreece
Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in EgyptEgypt
Festivity of Saint Tryphon and the Kolo (chain dance) of Saint Tryphon, traditions of Croats from Boka Kotorska (Bay of Kotor) who live in the Republic of CroatiaCroatia
Holy Week in GuatemalaGuatemala
Kun Lbokator, traditional martial arts in CambodiaCambodia
Manual bell ringingSpain
Social practices and knowledge related to the preparation and use of the traditional plum spirit – šljivovicaSerbia
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in ChinaChina
Yaldā/ChellaIran (Islamic Republic of) – Afghanistan

2021

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Dances and expressions associated with the Corpus Christi FestivityPanama
Grand Festival of TarijaBolivia (Plurinational State of)

2020

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

ChamaméArgentina
Handmade production of Christmas tree decorations from blown glass beadsCzechia
Ong Chun/Wangchuan/Wangkang ceremony, rituals and related practices for maintaining the sustainable connection between man and the oceanChina – Malaysia
Pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus Apostle MonasteryIran (Islamic Republic of) – Armenia
Wine HorsesSpain
Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea

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

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

‘Hatajo de Negritos’ and ‘Hatajo de Pallitas’ from the Peruvian south-central coastlinePeru
Byzantine chantCyprus – Greece
Celestinian forgiveness celebrationItaly
Cultural Complex of Bumba-meu-boi from MaranhãoBrazil
Ethiopian epiphanyEthiopia
The festival of the Santísima Trinidad del Señor Jesús del Gran Poder in the city of La PazBolivia (Plurinational State of)

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Biocultural programme for the safeguarding of the tradition of the Blessed Palm in VenezuelaVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

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
Suri Jagek (observing the sun), traditional meteorological and astronomical practice based on the observation of the sun, moon and stars in reference to the local topographyPakistan

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Celebration in honor of the Budslaŭ icon of Our Lady (Budslaŭ fest)Belarus
La Romería (the pilgrimage): ritual cycle of 'La llevada' (the carrying) of the Virgin of ZapopanMexico
Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa, knowledge and practices concerning life, health and illness prevention and treatment among the Tibetan people in ChinaChina
Međimurska popevka, a folksong from MeđimurjeCroatia
Mooba dance of the Lenje ethnic group of Central Province of ZambiaZambia
Nativity scene (szopka) tradition in KrakowPoland
Picking of iva grass on Ozren mountainBosnia and Herzegovina
Ritual and festive expressions of the Congo culturePanama
Tamboradas drum-playing ritualsSpain

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Mongolian traditional practices of worshipping the sacred sitesMongolia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Kumbh MelaIndia
Ritual journeys in La Paz during AlasitaBolivia (Plurinational State of)

2016

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Carnival of GranvilleFrance
Khidr Elias feast and its vowsIraq
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
Practices related to the Viet beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three RealmsViet Nam
Rumba in Cuba, a festive combination of music and dances and all the practices associatedCuba
Škofja Loka passion playSlovenia
Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in JapanJapan
YogaIndia

2015

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

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

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

Baile ChinoChile
Festivity of Virgen de la Candelaria of PunoPeru
Kopachkata, a social dance from the village of Dramche, PijanecNorth Macedonia
Pujllay and Ayarichi, music and dances of the Yampara cultureBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Ritual and ceremonies of Sebeïba in the oasis of Djanet, AlgeriaAlgeria
Ritual dance of the royal drumBurundi
Slava, celebration of family saint patron’s daySerbia
Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab, IndiaIndia

2013

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Nan Pa’ch ceremonyGuatemala

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ancient Georgian traditional Qvevri wine-making methodGeorgia
Celebrations of big shoulder-borne processional structuresItaly
Commemoration feast of the finding of the True Holy Cross of ChristEthiopia
La Parranda de San Pedro de Guarenas y GuatireVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Limousin septennial ostensionsFrance
Men’s group Colindat, Christmas-time ritualRepublic of Moldova – Romania
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
Ichapekene Piesta, the biggest festival of San Ignacio de Moxos Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-MeuseBelgium
Schemenlaufen, the carnival of Imst, AustriaAustria
Venezuela's Dancing Devils of Corpus ChristiVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Saman danceIndonesia
Secret society of the Kôrêdugaw, the rite of wisdom in MaliMali

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ceremonial Keşkek traditionTürkiye
Leuven age set ritual repertoireBelgium
Mibu no Hana Taue, ritual of transplanting rice in Mibu, HiroshimaJapan
Nijemo Kolo, silent circle dance of the Dalmatian hinterlandCroatia
Ride of the Kings in the south-east of the Czech RepublicCzechia

2010

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Watertight-bulkhead technology of Chinese junksChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Bar’ah, music and dance of Oman Dhofari valleysOman
Chant of the Sybil on MajorcaSpain
Chhau danceIndia
Gingerbread craft from Northern CroatiaCroatia
Gióng festival of Phù Ðông and Sóc templesViet Nam
Hopping procession of EchternachLuxembourg
Houtem Jaarmarkt, annual winter fair and livestock market at Sint-Lievens-HoutemBelgium
Huaconada, ritual dance of MitoPeru
Krakelingen and Tonnekensbrand, end-of-winter bread and fire feast at GeraardsbergenBelgium
Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of KeralaIndia
Pahlevani and Zoorkhanei ritualsIran (Islamic Republic of)
Parachicos in the traditional January feast of Chiapa de CorzoMexico
Semah, Alevi-Bektaşi ritualTürkiye
Sinjska Alka, a knights’ tournament in SinjCroatia

2009

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ca trù singingViet Nam
Cantu in paghjella, a secular and liturgical oral tradition of CorsicaFrance
Rite of the Kalyady Tsars (Christmas Tsars)Belarus
Suiti cultural spaceLatvia

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Annual carnival bell ringers’ pageant from the Kastav areaCroatia
CheoyongmuRepublic of Korea
Chinese traditional architectural craftsmanship for timber-framed structuresChina
Dainichido BugakuJapan
Farmers’ dance of China’s Korean ethnic groupChina
Festivity of Saint Blaise, the patron of DubrovnikCroatia
GanggangsullaeRepublic of Korea
Hayachine KaguraJapan
Holy Week processions in PopayánColombia
Jeju Chilmeoridang YeongdeunggutRepublic of Korea
Mazu belief and customsChina
NanyinChina
Nestinarstvo, messages from the past: the Panagyr of Saints Constantine and Helena in the village of BulgariBulgaria
Procession of the Holy Blood in BrugesBelgium
Procession Za Krizen (‘following the cross’) on the island of HvarCroatia
Quan Họ Bắc Ninh folk songsViet Nam
Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing traditionEstonia
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from GorjaniCroatia
Tibetan operaChina
YeongsanjaeRepublic of Korea
Yueju operaChina

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Ahellil of GouraraAlgeria
Azerbaijani MughamAzerbaijan
Barkcloth making in UgandaUganda
Carnival of BarranquillaColombia
Carnival of OruroBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Cocolo dance drama traditionDominican Republic
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
El GüegüenseNicaragua
Ifa divination systemNigeria
Indigenous festivity dedicated to the deadMexico
Kankurang, Manding initiatory riteGambia – Senegal
Mask dance of the drums from DrametseBhutan
Mevlevi Sema ceremonyTürkiye
Mystery play of ElcheSpain
Nha Nhac, Vietnamese court musicViet Nam
Oxherding and oxcart traditions in Costa RicaCosta Rica
Patum of BergaSpain
Processional giants and dragons in Belgium and FranceBelgium – France
Samba de Roda of the Recôncavo of BahiaBrazil
Space of gong cultureViet Nam
Tradition of Vedic chantingIndia
Traditional music of the Morin KhuurMongolia
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