BUSAN, South Korea – The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee officially opened today in Busan, South Korea, where it will convene from 20 to 29 July 2026. The event brings together around 3,000 delegates, experts, and representatives from 196 States Parties, alongside international organizations and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
The meeting marks the first time South Korea has hosted the World Heritage Committee since acceding to the 1972 World Heritage Convention in 1988, reflecting the country's growing role in promoting culture and heritage conservation on the global stage.
This year's session also features a notable Lebanese presence in the Committee's leadership. Lebanon serves as one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the 48th session, alongside Jamaica, Senegal, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Former South Korean Ambassador to UNESCO Lee Byong-hyun is chairing the session, while Jamaica serves as Rapporteur.
Lebanon also continues to play an active role as an elected member of the World Heritage Committee, participating in decisions related to the inscription of new World Heritage sites, the conservation status of existing properties, and the development of policies governing the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.
Lebanon has been a UNESCO Member State since 1946 and is home to six UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Anjar, Baalbek, Byblos, the Holy Valley (Ouadi Qadisha) and the Forest of the Cedars of God, Tyre, and the Rachid Karami International Fair in Tripoli, which was inscribed in 2023.
The country also has three elements inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, three Biosphere Reserves, and two inscriptions on the Memory of the World International Register. Lebanon participates actively in UNESCO's programmes through its Permanent Delegation to UNESCO and the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO.
What is the World Heritage Committee?
The World Heritage Committee is the principal body responsible for implementing the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in 1972 and entering into force in 1975.
The Convention was established in response to growing threats facing sites of outstanding cultural and natural value, particularly following the successful international campaign to save the Abu Simbel temples in Egypt during the 1960s, which demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding humanity's shared heritage.
The Committee consists of 21 States Parties, elected by the Convention's States Parties—now numbering 196, and meets annually to take decisions concerning the management of the World Heritage List.
Why was the World Heritage Convention created?
The Convention seeks to protect sites considered to have Outstanding Universal Value, including:
• Cultural heritage sites;
• Natural heritage sites; and
• Mixed sites combining both cultural and natural significance.
Its objectives include:
• Safeguarding humanity's shared heritage for future generations;
• Promoting international cooperation in conservation efforts;
• Providing technical and financial assistance to countries requiring support in protecting heritage sites; and
• Advancing sustainable development through heritage conservation.
Today, the World Heritage List includes more than 1,200 properties worldwide.
What does the World Heritage Committee do?
The Committee's responsibilities extend well beyond inscribing new sites on the World Heritage List. It also:
• Evaluates new nomination dossiers;
• Monitors the conservation status of inscribed properties;
• Places threatened sites on the List of World Heritage in Danger when necessary;
• Reviews States Parties' implementation of their obligations under the Convention;
• Develops policies and operational guidelines for heritage protection; and
• Addresses emerging challenges affecting heritage sites, including climate change, natural disasters, and armed conflict.
Busan 2026: South Korea Hosts the Committee for the First Time
The opening ceremony was attended by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, senior UNESCO officials, and representatives of Member States.
In his opening remarks, President Lee stressed that World Heritage is "not merely a legacy of the past, but a symbol that unites humanity across borders and serves as a foundation for peace and cooperation."
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany highlighted South Korea's 17 World Heritage properties, describing them as a reflection of the country's rich and diverse history, while welcoming Busan's hosting of this landmark event.
The ceremony featured performances celebrating Korea's cultural heritage alongside contemporary artistic expressions. Global K-pop star G-Dragon, serving as the honorary ambassador of the session, emphasized the role of art in protecting heritage and promoting peace.
Key Issues on the 2026 Agenda
New World Heritage Nominations
This year, the Committee will examine:
• 30 new nominations for inscription on the World Heritage List; and
• Three requests to extend or modify existing World Heritage properties.
Among the most prominent proposals is the extension of Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats, inscribed in 2021, through the addition of four new coastal tidal flats following a recommendation by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
State of Conservation
The Committee will review the conservation status of 147 World Heritage properties, focusing on challenges including:
• Climate change;
• Armed conflicts;
• Tourism pressures;
• Urban expansion; and
• Environmental pollution.
World Heritage in Danger
Particular attention will be given to properties inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, with the Committee assessing conservation reports and determining whether additional protection measures are required.
The Sado Mine Issue
One of the most sensitive issues on this year's agenda concerns Japan's implementation of follow-up measures relating to the Sado Gold Mine, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2024.
A draft decision calls on Japan to provide a more comprehensive account of the site's history, including the forced mobilization of Korean laborers during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula (1910–1945).
According to the draft, Japan's efforts to fully reflect this history remain insufficient. The decision is expected to be adopted unless Member States raise objections.
The Busan Declaration
The Committee is also expected to consider adopting the Busan Declaration, which proposes adding "Collaboration" as a sixth strategic objective for implementing the World Heritage Convention.
This would complement UNESCO's existing Five Cs:
• Credibility;
• Conservation;
• Capacity-building;
• Communication; and
• Communities.
The proposal reflects growing calls within UNESCO to strengthen international cooperation in addressing increasingly complex threats facing World Heritage sites, particularly climate change, natural disasters, and armed conflicts.
How Have the Committee's Priorities Evolved?
Over the past two decades, the World Heritage Committee has gradually shifted its focus. Rather than concentrating solely on the inscription of new sites, it now increasingly addresses the global challenges threatening humanity's shared heritage.
In earlier years, the Committee's work centered primarily on evaluating nominations, preserving the authenticity of heritage sites, and strengthening legal and administrative protection mechanisms.
In 2023, discussions focused on the impact of armed conflicts on heritage—particularly in Ukraine—alongside financing conservation efforts and strengthening community participation in site management.
In 2024, climate change emerged as a major priority, accompanied by discussions on sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation, and support for developing countries preparing World Heritage nominations.
In 2025, greater emphasis was placed on improving the resilience of heritage sites to disasters, expanding digital documentation and heritage digitization, safeguarding intangible heritage associated with World Heritage properties, and increasing youth engagement in conservation.
The 2026 Busan agenda reflects an even broader vision centered on international collaboration as a key pillar of heritage protection. Alongside the proposed addition of "Collaboration" as a sixth strategic objective, this year's priorities include addressing the impacts of climate change, monitoring States Parties' commitments following inscription, strengthening protection for heritage in conflict zones, building institutional capacity, expanding community participation, and promoting culture as a tool for peace and intercultural understanding.
This evolution underscores a growing recognition that protecting World Heritage is no longer the responsibility of individual countries alone, but a shared global commitment requiring coordinated international action.
Why Does the 2026 Session Matter?
The Busan session comes at a time when World Heritage sites face unprecedented environmental, political, and social pressures. More importantly, it reflects a broader transformation in UNESCO's approach to heritage conservation.
Where the Committee once focused primarily on listing and managing heritage sites, its priority today is ensuring their long-term resilience in the face of climate change, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and other emerging threats, while strengthening international cooperation as an essential foundation for safeguarding humanity's shared heritage.
As deliberations get underway, the decisions adopted over the coming days will shape not only the future of dozens of nominated sites but also the international policy agenda for World Heritage protection in the years ahead.
