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.







More criteria

Results : 279 elements corresponding to 5 regions and 114 countries
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2023

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ancestral and traditional techniques for the elaboration of the 'Poncho Para'i de 60 Listas', from the city of Piribebuy, Republic of ParaguayParaguay
Ingoma Ya MapikoMozambique
Traditional Syrian glassblowingSyrian Arab Republic

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Aklan piña handloom weavingPhilippines
Alpine pasture seasonSwitzerland
Art of illumination: Təzhib/Tazhib/Zarhalkori/Tezhip/NaqqoshlikAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Tajikistan – Türkiye – Uzbekistan
Bolero: identity, emotion and poetry turned into songCuba – Mexico
Ch'utillos, the Festival of San Bartolomé and San Ignacio de Loyola, the meeting of cultures in PotosíBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Dabkeh, traditional dance in PalestineState of Palestine
Elechek, Kyrgyz female headwear: traditional knowledge and ritualsKyrgyzstan
Garba of GujaratIndia
Hiragasy, a performing art of the Central Highlands of MadagascarMadagascar
Jamu wellness cultureIndonesia
JunkanooBahamas
Knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass productionCzechia – Finland – France – Germany – Hungary – Spain
Mahadra, a community system for transmission of traditional knowledge and oral expressionsMauritania
Malhun, a popular poetic and musical artMorocco
Maltese Village Festa, an annual community celebrationMalta
Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practicesColombia – Cyprus – Germany – Kyrgyzstan – Luxembourg – Nigeria – Slovenia – Togo
Nguon, rituals of governance and associated expressions in the Bamoun communityCameroon
Practices and meanings associated with the preparation and consumption of ceviche, an expression of Peruvian traditional cuisinePeru
Sodai straw garden making in LithuaniaLithuania
The practice of opera singing in ItalyItaly
Tradition of blacksmithing in GyumriArmenia
Traditional craft of Naga motif weaving in Lao communitiesLao People's Democratic Republic
Traditional knowledge and skills of production of the atlas and adras fabricsTajikistan
Traditional skills of loincloth weaving in Côte d’IvoireCôte d'Ivoire

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

Art of pottery-making of Chăm peopleViet Nam
Quinchamalí and Santa Cruz de Cuca potteryChile
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
Ancestral system of knowledge of the four indigenous peoples, Arhuaco, Kankuamo, Kogui and Wiwa of the Sierra Nevada de Santa MartaColombia
Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette breadFrance
Crafting and playing the OudIran (Islamic Republic of) – Syrian Arab Republic
Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interactionAzerbaijan – Türkiye
Festivals related to the Journey of the Holy family in EgyptEgypt
Furyu-odori, ritual dances imbued with people’s hopes and prayersJapan
Harissa, knowledge, skills and culinary and social practicesTunisia
Hungarian string band traditionHungary
Kalela danceZambia
Lipizzan horse breeding traditionsAustria – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Croatia – Hungary – Italy – Romania – Slovakia – Slovenia
Manual bell ringingSpain
Pyongyang Raengmyon customDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Raï, popular folk song of AlgeriaAlgeria
Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weavingAfghanistan – Azerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of) – Türkiye – Tajikistan – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan
Straw weaving in Belarus, art, craft and skillsBelarus
The art of the traditional blouse with embroidery on the shoulder (altiţă) — an element of cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of MoldovaRomania – Republic of Moldova
The practice of Modern Dance in GermanyGermany
Traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in ChinaChina
Turkmen-style needlework artTurkmenistan – Iran (Islamic Republic of)

2021

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qudoud al-HalabiyaSyrian Arab Republic
Bakhshi artUzbekistan
Corso culture, flower and fruit parades in the NetherlandsNetherlands (Kingdom of the)
Dutar making craftsmanship and traditional music performing art combined with singingTurkmenistan
Flower carpets tradition for Corpus Christi processionsPoland
GamelanIndonesia
Namur stilt joustingBelgium
Nora, dance drama in southern ThailandThailand
Nordic clinker boat traditionsDenmark – Finland – Iceland – Norway – Sweden
Traditional craftsmanship of making Dumbara Ratā KalālaSri Lanka

2020

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Aboxan Musik ǀŌb ǂÂns tsî ǁKhasigu, ancestral musical sound knowledge and skillsNamibia
Handmade weaving in Upper Egypt (Sa'eed)Egypt

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Budima danceZambia
ChamaméArgentina
Craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanicsSwitzerland – France
TaijiquanChina
Traditional weaving of Al SaduSaudi Arabia – Kuwait
Wine HorsesSpain

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

Polyphonic Caravan, researching, safeguarding and promoting the Epirus polyphonic songGreece
The Martinique yole, from construction to sailing practices, a model for heritage safeguardingFrance

2019

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Buklog, thanksgiving ritual system of the SubanenPhilippines
Sega tambour ChagosMauritius
Seperu folkdance and associated practicesBotswana
Spring rite of Juraŭski KarahodBelarus

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

'Ie Samoa, fine mat and its cultural valueSamoa
‘Hatajo de Negritos’ and ‘Hatajo de Pallitas’ from the Peruvian south-central coastlinePeru
Ak-kalpak craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and skills in making and wearing Kyrgyz men’s headwearKyrgyzstan
AlpinismFrance – Italy – Switzerland
Armenian letter art and its cultural expressionsArmenia
Artisanal talavera of Puebla and Tlaxcala (Mexico) and ceramics of Talavera de la Reina and El Puente del Arzobispo (Spain) making processMexico – Spain
Byzantine chantCyprus – Greece
Celestinian forgiveness celebrationItaly
Cultural Complex of Bumba-meu-boi from MaranhãoBrazil
Drotárstvo, wire craft and artSlovakia
Ethiopian epiphanyEthiopia
Holy Week processions in MendrisioSwitzerland
Irish harpingIreland
Khorazm dance, LazgiUzbekistan
Kwagh-Hir theatrical performanceNigeria
Morna, musical practice of Cabo VerdeCabo Verde
Music and dance of Dominican BachataDominican Republic
Nuad Thai, traditional Thai massageThailand
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
Practices of Then by Tày, Nùng and Thái ethnic groups in Viet NamViet Nam
Provision of services and hospitality during the Arba'in visitationIraq
SilatMalaysia
The festival of the Santísima Trinidad del Señor Jesús del Gran Poder in the city of La PazBolivia (Plurinational State of)
Tradition of Kosiv painted ceramicsUkraine
Traditional turkmen carpet making art in TurkmenistanTurkmenistan
Traditions of Pencak SilatIndonesia

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
Yalli (Kochari, Tenzere), traditional group dances of NakhchivanAzerbaijan

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

As-Samer in JordanJordan
Blaudruck/Modrotisk/Kékfestés/Modrotlač, resist block printing and indigo dyeing in EuropeAustria – Czechia – Germany – Hungary – Slovakia
Bobbin lacemaking in SloveniaSlovenia
Chakan, embroidery art in the Republic of TajikistanTajikistan
Dondang SayangMalaysia
HurlingIreland
Međimurska popevka, a folksong from MeđimurjeCroatia
Mooba dance of the Lenje ethnic group of Central Province of ZambiaZambia
Mwinoghe, joyous danceMalawi
Picking of iva grass on Ozren mountainBosnia and Herzegovina
Pottery skills of the women of SejnaneTunisia
Reggae music of JamaicaJamaica
Ritual and festive expressions of the Congo culturePanama
Rūkada Nātya, traditional string puppet drama in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Singing to the accompaniment of the GusleSerbia
Tamboradas drum-playing ritualsSpain

2017

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Dikopelo folk music of Bakgatla ba Kgafela in Kgatleng DistrictBotswana

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, female traditional interior wall decoration in Asir, Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Art of crafting and playing with Kamantcheh/Kamancha, a bowed string musical instrumentAzerbaijan – Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Artisanal processes and plant fibers techniques for talcos, crinejas and pintas weaving of the pinta’o hatPanama
Basel CarnivalSwitzerland
Chogān, a horse-riding game accompanied by music and storytellingIran (Islamic Republic of)
Craft of the miller operating windmills and watermillsNetherlands (Kingdom of the)
Craftmanship of Estremoz clay figuresPortugal
Cultural practices associated to the 1st of MarchBulgaria – North Macedonia – Republic of Moldova – Romania
Dolma making and sharing tradition, a marker of cultural identityAzerbaijan
Door-to-door rounds of KurentiSlovenia
Kochari, traditional group danceArmenia
Kolo, traditional folk danceSerbia
Konjic woodcarvingBosnia and Herzegovina
Kumbh MelaIndia
Kushtdepdi rite of singing and dancingTurkmenistan
Multipart singing of HorehronieSlovakia
Nsima, culinary tradition of MalawiMalawi
PuntoCuba
RebetikoGreece
The art of Bài Chòi in Central Viet NamViet Nam
Traditional art of Shital Pati weaving of SylhetBangladesh
Uilleann pipingIreland
Xoan singing of Phú Thọ province, Viet Nam Viet Nam

2016

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Bisalhães black pottery manufacturing processPortugal
Chapei Dang VengCambodia
Cossack’s songs of Dnipropetrovsk RegionUkraine

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Argungu international fishing and cultural festivalNigeria
Bhojpuri folk songs in Mauritius, Geet-GawaiMauritius
Charrería, equestrian tradition in MexicoMexico
Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (women divers)Republic of Korea
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
Khidr Elias feast and its vowsIraq
Kuresi in KazakhstanKazakhstan
Music and dance of the merengue in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
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
Oshi Palav, a traditional meal and its social and cultural contexts in TajikistanTajikistan
Palov culture and traditionUzbekistan
Practices related to the Viet beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three RealmsViet Nam
Traditional craftsmanship of Çini-makingTürkiye
Traditional wall-carpet craftsmanship in Romania and the Republic of MoldovaRomania – Republic of Moldova
Winegrowers’ Festival in VeveySwitzerland
Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in JapanJapan
YogaIndia

2015

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Coaxing ritual for camelsMongolia
Koogere oral tradition of the Basongora, Banyabindi and Batooro peoplesUganda
Manufacture of cowbellsPortugal

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisationKazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan
Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosityUnited Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia – Oman – Qatar
Classical horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School ViennaAustria
Epic art of GoroglyTurkmenistan
Fichee-Chambalaalla, New Year festival of the Sidama peopleEthiopia
Oshituthi shomagongo, marula fruit festivalNamibia
Summer solstice fire festivals in the PyreneesAndorra – Spain – France
Surova folk feast in Pernik regionBulgaria
Three genres of traditional dance in BaliIndonesia
Tinian marble craftsmanshipGreece
Tradition of kimchi-making in the Democratic People's Republic of KoreaDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea
Traditional knowledge and technologies relating to the growing and processing of the curaguaVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Wititi dance of the Colca ValleyPeru

2014

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Male-child cleansing ceremony of the Lango of central northern UgandaUganda

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Al-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab EmiratesOman – United Arab Emirates
Al-Zajal, recited or sung poetryLebanon
Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan treeMorocco
Capoeira circleBrazil
Ebru, Turkish art of marblingTürkiye
Know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of ChiosGreece
Lavash, the preparation, meaning and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in ArmeniaArmenia
Ritual and ceremonies of Sebeïba in the oasis of Djanet, AlgeriaAlgeria
Tchopa, sacrificial dance of the Lhomwe people of southern MalawiMalawi
The tradition of carpet-making in ChiprovtsiBulgaria
Traditional knowledge and skills in making Kyrgyz and Kazakh yurts (Turkic nomadic dwellings)Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan
Traditional Mauritian SegaMauritius
Ví and Giặm folk songs of Nghệ TĩnhViet Nam
Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-made paperJapan
Zmijanje embroideryBosnia and Herzegovina

2013

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Nan Pa’ch ceremonyGuatemala

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Đờn ca tài tử music and song in southern Viet NamViet Nam
Celebrations of big shoulder-borne processional structuresItaly
Círio de Nazaré (The Taper of Our Lady of Nazareth) in the city of Belém, ParáBrazil
Kimjang, making and sharing kimchi in the Republic of KoreaRepublic of Korea
Knowledge, skills and rituals related to the annual renewal of the Q’eswachaka bridgePeru
Kyrgyz epic trilogy: Manas, Semetey, SeytekKyrgyzstan
Mediterranean dietCyprus – Croatia – Spain – Greece – Italy – Morocco – Portugal
Petrykivka decorative painting as a phenomenon of the Ukrainian ornamental folk artUkraine
Practices and knowledge linked to the Imzad of the Tuareg communities of Algeria, Mali and NigerAlgeria – Mali – Niger
Traditional art of Jamdani weavingBangladesh
Traditional craftsmanship of the Mongol Ger and its associated customsMongolia

2012

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ala-kiyiz and Shyrdak, art of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpetsKyrgyzstan
Earthenware pottery-making skills in Botswana’s Kgatleng DistrictBotswana

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Cherry festival in SefrouMorocco
Craftsmanship of Horezu ceramicsRomania
Fest-Noz, festive gathering based on the collective practice of traditional dances of BrittanyFrance
Folk art of the Matyó, embroidery of a traditional communityHungary
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-MeuseBelgium
Mesir Macunu festivalTürkiye
Performance of the Armenian epic of 'Daredevils of Sassoun' or 'David of Sassoun'Armenia
Rites and craftsmanship associated with the wedding costume tradition of TlemcenAlgeria
Traditional violin craftsmanship in CremonaItaly
Traditional weaving of the Ecuadorian toquilla straw hatEcuador
Venezuela's Dancing Devils of Corpus ChristiVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)

2011

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Naqqāli, Iranian dramatic story-tellingIran (Islamic Republic of)

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Bećarac singing and playing from Eastern CroatiaCroatia
Ceremonial Keşkek traditionTürkiye
Fado, urban popular song of PortugalPortugal
Jultagi, tightrope walkingRepublic of Korea
Mariachi, string music, song and trumpetMexico
Mibu no Hana Taue, ritual of transplanting rice in Mibu, HiroshimaJapan
Nijemo Kolo, silent circle dance of the Dalmatian hinterlandCroatia
Weaving of Mosi (fine ramie) in the Hansan regionRepublic of Korea

2010

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Ojkanje singingCroatia
Wooden movable-type printing of ChinaChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Acupuncture and moxibustion of traditional Chinese medicineChina
Craftsmanship of Alençon needle lace-makingFrance
Music of the Bakhshis of KhorasanIran (Islamic Republic of)
Sutartinės, Lithuanian multipart songsLithuania
Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the Republic of AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Traditional Mexican cuisine - ancestral, ongoing community culture, the Michoacán paradigmMexico
Traditional skills of carpet weaving in FarsIran (Islamic Republic of)
Traditional skills of carpet weaving in KashanIran (Islamic Republic of)
Wayuu normative system, applied by the Pütchipü’üi (palabrero)Colombia
Yuki-tsumugi, silk fabric production techniqueJapan

2009

List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding

Mongol Biyelgee, Mongolian traditional folk danceMongolia
Suiti cultural spaceLatvia
Traditional Li textile techniques: spinning, dyeing, weaving and embroideringChina

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Chinese paper-cutChina
Craftsmanship of Nanjing Yunjin brocadeChina
GanggangsullaeRepublic of Korea
Grand song of the Dong ethnic groupChina
Indonesian BatikIndonesia
Lacemaking in CroatiaCroatia
Lefkara laces or LefkaritikaCyprus
Namsadang NoriRepublic of Korea
Quan Họ Bắc Ninh folk songsViet Nam
Sericulture and silk craftsmanship of ChinaChina
Seto Leelo, Seto polyphonic singing traditionEstonia
Spring procession of Ljelje/Kraljice (queens) from GorjaniCroatia

2008

Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Art of Akyns, Kyrgyz epic tellersKyrgyzstan
Barkcloth making in UgandaUganda
Bistritsa Babi, archaic polyphony, dances and rituals from the Shoplouk regionBulgaria
Chopi TimbilaMozambique
Cultural space of Palenque de San BasilioColombia
Cultural space of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Congos of Villa MellaDominican Republic
Cultural space of the Yaaral and DegalMali
Gule WamkuluMalawi – Mozambique – Zambia
Guqin and its musicChina
Hudhud chants of the IfugaoPhilippines
Kihnu cultural spaceEstonia
Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatreIndia
La Tumba FrancesaCuba
Oral heritage of GeledeBenin – Nigeria – Togo
Palestinian HikayeState of Palestine
Royal ballet of CambodiaCambodia
Space of gong cultureViet Nam
Urtiin Duu, traditional folk long songChina – Mongolia
Vimbuza healing danceMalawi
Wayang puppet theatreIndonesia
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