Essaouira is the First African and Arab City to Host UNESCO’s Creative Cities Conference in 2026
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced today that the Moroccan city of Essaouira will host the eighteenth annual conference of the Creative Cities Network in 2026, after winning the highest number of votes in an electronic poll involving member cities.
This recognition is unprecedented, marking Essaouira as the first African and Arab city to host this prominent international cultural event.
Essaouira’s selection is a culmination of its rich cultural journey since it was designated as a member of the Creative Cities Network in the field of music in 2019. The city has been actively engaged in supporting cultural and creative sectors, with a particular focus on music, by organizing globally renowned festivals such as “Gnaoua and World Music” and “Jazz Under the Argan Trees.” This reflects the diversity of its identity and the richness of its cultural scene.
The annual Creative Cities Conference serves as an international platform for exchanging experiences among 350 member cities, aiming to share best practices and promote cooperation in the fields of culture and sustainable urban development. Essaouira’s session will focus on a specific theme to be announced later, highlighting the sustainability of public policies supporting local cultural industries.
This event is part of efforts to strengthen the Creative Cities Network and to align with the outcomes of the “Mondiacult 2025” conference, aiming to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030, particularly Goal 11, which relates to making cities more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. This provides Essaouira with an international platform to showcase its model of cultural and creative integration.
