Uzbekistan’s Bukhara has been selected as the host city for the annual conference of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, giving the country a new platform to showcase its cultural industries, tourism assets and approach to sustainable urban development.
A first for Central Asia
The initiative to hold the conference in Bukhara was put forward by Uzbekistan during the opening of UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand in October 2025. The decision makes Bukhara the first city in Central Asia, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Organization of Turkic States to host the annual gathering of the international network.
The forum will focus on the development of creative industries, the preservation and contemporary use of cultural heritage, support for young people and creative professionals, and the contribution of culture to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its agenda is expected to combine policy discussions with practical opportunities for cities and businesses to develop international partnerships.
Tourism and investment prospects
Hosting the conference is expected to strengthen the international visibility of Bukhara and create additional opportunities to promote Uzbekistan’s tourism and cultural potential. It may also help the country attract new partners and investment to cultural industries, creative businesses and related urban development projects.
Bukhara has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993. In 2023, it joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the crafts and folk art category, reinforcing its position as one of the region’s important centres for traditional craftsmanship, cultural exchange and creative production.
Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network now brings together 408 cities from more than 110 countries. It functions as an international cooperation platform that treats culture and creativity as tools for sustainable social and economic development.
A global meeting point for creative cities
The annual conference is the network’s principal event. It brings together representatives of member cities to exchange experience, discuss the growth of creative industries and build international partnerships. Hundreds of creative cities are expected to be represented in Bukhara, alongside municipal leaders, experts, cultural organisations, creative-industry companies and international institutions.
The programme traditionally includes plenary sessions, a Mayors’ Forum, thematic discussions, presentations of international projects, business-oriented partnership meetings and creative-city fairs.
For international companies in furniture, interior and exterior manufacturing, construction, design, architecture and cultural tourism, the event could provide access to Uzbek municipalities, creative businesses and potential project partners. Bukhara’s role as host is also likely to increase demand for hospitality, visitor infrastructure, exhibition spaces, heritage-sensitive renovation and locally inspired design, while giving foreign investors a closer view of Uzbekistan’s expanding creative economy and international development agenda.
