UNESCO Picks Essaouira as Hosts of 2026 Creatives Cities Network Conference

Marrakech – In a decision that echoes across the shores of Morocco and the cultural capitals of the world, UNESCO has officially announced that the windswept city of Essaouira will host the 18th Annual Session of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in 2026. 

The vote, cast digitally by member cities of the Creative Cities Network, came to a resounding conclusion: Essaouira emerged not just as a contender, but as the clear favorite. 

Since 2019, when the city was designated a UNESCO Creative City in the field of Music, Essaouira has played its part with flair — proving that creativity isn’t a luxury, but a lifeline.

Nestled between the Atlantic and the desert, Essaouira pulses with rhythm. From the hypnotic beat of Gnaoua to the improvisational grace of jazz beneath the argan trees, music has become both the city’s signature and its soul. 

This is not simply a place where traditions are preserved — it’s a city where traditions evolve, blend, and burst into life.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Conference brings together more than 350 cities worldwide, each representing a unique expression of culture and creativity — from gastronomy to design, from media arts to crafts. 

The 2026 edition in Essaouira will focus on a theme yet to be unveiled, but its core mission remains: to champion sustainable local cultural policies and global cooperation.

Beyond panels and policy, the conference promises to spotlight the very spirit of Essaouira: a city where ancient medinas, Jewish quarters, and coastal breezes whisper stories of coexistence, exchange, and imagination.

UNESCO’s collaboration with Essaouira is more than symbolic. It aligns with global efforts like MONDIACULT 2025 and supports the pursuit of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 11, which envisions inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.

In 2026, the world won’t just come to Essaouira for a conference. It will come to experience a city of winds, words, and wonder — where creativity doesn’t just live. It soars.