OVPM OWHC OCPM

09/08/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

Every September 8, we come together to celebrate the founding of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). This day is an opportunity to highlight the richness of our network and the commitment of our member cities to bringing their historic centers to life.

In 2026, this celebration takes on special significance. With just a few weeks to go before the 18th World Congress in Marrakech, where the OWHC’s New Urban Process will be adopted, we wish to dedicate this day to habitability and dialogue with citizens.

“𝑬𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆”

Our historic centers are not merely places to be preserved: they are living environments to be inhabited, passed on, and collectively reinvented. Throughout the network, cities are already implementing projects and initiatives to improve quality of life, strengthen residential functions, transform mobility, adapt public spaces, and harness heritage as a resource for the future.

This OWHC Day is therefore an opportunity to raise awareness of these actions, but also to listen to citizens and involve them in the transformation of their historic centers.

As we approach the Marrakech conference, let’s celebrate together this collective momentum and the ambition that unites us: building historic centers that are more favorable to habitability, more vibrant, and more sustainable.

Happy OWHC Day to everyone!

07/06/2026

Timbuktu (Mali) is back in the OWHC network!

The Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) is delighted to announce Timbuktu’s return as a member city in good standing.

This reinstatement follows on from discussions held during the meeting of sub-Saharan African cities organised in Lamu (Kenya) in December 2025.

The participation of Mr. Yéhia Tandina, Mayor of Timbuktu, and Mr. El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, Head of the Timbuktu Cultural Mission, at the meeting marked an important step in strengthening ties with the Organisation.

The city’s representatives expressed their desire to renew their collaboration with the OWHC and to contribute actively to the network’s work.

Timbuktu’s return follows the recent accession of the cities of Djenné (Mali), Agadez (Niger) and Saint-Louis (Senegal), which joined the Organisation earlier this year, thereby strengthening the African presence within the network. In addition to the other members, the OWHC now has six members in good standing from the sub-Saharan African region.

06/23/2026

On the Way to Marrakech: Watch the Video on the New Urban Process

The General Secretariat invites member cities to watch a video dedicated to the New Urban Process—its purpose, and its value for World Heritage cities.

The video explains what the New Urban Process is: a reference framework developed with and for member cities, designed to guide them in transforming their historic centers and to support their local efforts to improve habitability.

We encourage you to watch this video and share it with your teams, elected officials, and those all involved in managing your historic center. It is a useful resource for better understanding the scope of the New Urban Process and for preparing, starting now, your city’s contribution to its adoption at the 18th World Congress in Marrakech from October 26 to 29, 2026.

06/16/2026

Registration for the 18th World Congress and the Loyalty Reward Program are now launched!

It’s time to register for the 18th OWHC World Congress, which will take place in Marrakech (Morocco) from October 26 to 29, 2026, under the theme “The New Urban Process: Toward Habitability of Historic Centers.” Visit the official congress website to register: https://www.ovpmmarrakech2026.com

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05/20/2026

The OWHC is pleased to welcome back the City of Saint-Louis (Senegal) as an active member of our international network.

Following the meeting held in Lamu, Kenya, in December 2025 — where sub-Saharan African cities came together to contribute to the OWHC’s New Urban Process — the Mayor of Saint-Louis, Mr. Amadou Mansour Faye, officially renewed the city’s membership after more than 20 years.

After the recent return of Djenné (Mali) and Agadez (Niger), Saint-Louis’ renewed commitment reflects the growing mobilization of African World Heritage cities within the OWHC.

By rejoining the organization, Saint-Louis strengthens a shared dynamic of cooperation, exchange of expertise and urban innovation adapted to the realities of historic cities.

The OWHC warmly welcomes Saint-Louis back into its network and looks forward to continuing this collective work for more resilient, vibrant and sustainable historic centres.

03/26/2026

🌍 Marrakech 2026 is coming.

From October 26 to 29, the 18th World Congress of the OWHC will bring together member cities for a pivotal moment in our collective journey. Centered on the theme “The New Urban Project: Toward Habitability of Historic Centers,” this congress marks a decisive step forward.

Since Quebec City in 2022, where we acknowledged the urgency of the crises affecting our historic centers, and Córdoba in 2024, where we affirmed habitability as a shared response, our network has been building a common vision. In Marrakech, we move from reflection to action.

This congress will introduce the OWHC’s New Urban Project, a structured and evolving framework designed to support cities in addressing the real challenges of habitability. Developed through an unprecedented collaborative effort involving more than half of our members, it represents a collective ambition to rethink how we act within historic urban spaces.

Marrakech 2026 will also be a key moment for the life of our organization, as member cities come together to shape the next Action Plan and define priorities for the years ahead.

More than ever, this gathering will be an opportunity to share perspectives, strengthen cooperation, and collectively shape the future of our historic centers.

We look forward to welcoming you in Marrakech.

03/04/2026

The OWHC is pleased to announce the accession of two new member cities: Djenné, Mali, and Agadez, Niger. These two iconic cities enrich our international network with their exceptional sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Located in the inner Niger Delta, Djenné is world-renowned for its remarkable earthen architecture and the historic ensemble of the Old Town of Djenné, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988. A true symbol of Sahelian architectural genius, the city is particularly notable for its famous Great Mosque, considered one of the largest earthen buildings in the world. Djenné bears witness to an ancient urban and commercial tradition that played a major role in cultural and economic exchanges in West Africa.

For its part, the city of Agadez in Niger is home to the Historic Center of Agadez, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. A former caravan city in the heart of the Sahara, Agadez developed as an important crossroads for trans-Saharan trade and a major center of Tuareg culture. Its earthen urban fabric, dominated by the imposing minaret of the Great Mosque of Agadez—the tallest adobe minaret in the world—illustrates the remarkable adaptation of architecture to the climatic and cultural conditions of the desert.

The inscription of these sites on the World Heritage List recognizes their Outstanding Universal Value, particularly for their unique testimony to the cultural traditions, historical exchanges, and forms of urbanism specific to Sahelian civilizations.

By joining the OWHC, Djenné and Agadez are committing to actively participate in sharing experiences, good practices, and knowledge with other member cities in the network. Their presence strengthens the cultural and geographic diversity of our organization.

Let us warmly welcome Djenné and Agadez to our international network dedicated to the protection and enhancement of World Heritage cities!

02/25/2026

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐒 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

Following the work done on the Framework about Cultural Tourism from ICOMOS ICTC, ICOMOS would like to forward to OWHC member cities this invitation for a webinar series to promote the application of their ICTC Tourism Charter:

From Principles to Practice: Operationalising the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

Their aim is to create a focused space for exchange where ICOMOS members and key partners can share experiences, present ongoing work, and engage in discussion on the practical application of the Charter across different contexts.

The webinars will take place monthly at 13:00 CET on the following dates:

• 25 February – Introduction to ICTC, the Charter & Charter Operationalisation (ChOp)
• 25 March – Principles 1 & 2 (Planning, Visitor Management, Inclusive Governance)
• 22 April – Principle 3 (Knowledge, Interpretation, Education)
• 27 May – Principles 4 & 5 (Community, Local Development, Benefit-sharing)
• 24 June – Principles 6 & 7 (Climate Action, Sustainability, Long-term Management)

Engage with experts in cultural heritage tourism through the ICTC Webinar Series and help examine the practical implementation of the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

02/18/2026

Submit a structuring project for the 2026 Jean-Paul-L'Allier Prize

The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 edition of the Jean-Paul-L'Allier Prize. This prize recognises outstanding projects implemented by member cities that contribute significantly to the enhancement, regeneration and sustainable management of their historic centres.

For this edition, the Prize invites member cities to submit structural and cross-cutting projects that promote the regeneration of historic centres through strategies focused on habitability. These initiatives must have already been implemented and place residents at the heart of public decisions, demonstrating concrete and lasting effects on their quality of life.

The mayor of the winning city will be a guest of honour at the 18th World Congress of the OWHC, which will take place in Marrakech from 26 to 29 October 2026. During this event, the winning project will be announced and presented.

Applications are open until 8 May 2026. For more information on applications, visit our website (link available in bio).

Member cities are invited to propose projects that use heritage as a lever for urban regeneration!

12/18/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

As we enter the new year, the General Secretariat would like to warmly thank all member cities for their intense and generous participation in the Organization's activities in 2025. The Quebec Roadmap and the Cordoba Path have reached a decisive stage that brings us closer to the New Urban Project.

In 2026, we will meet in Marrakech for the 18th OWHC World Congress. This event will mark the culmination of an unprecedented collaborative effort undertaken in 2022 and will open a new phase of cooperation for our members.

During this festive season, the entire team at the General Secretariat wishes you peaceful, convivial, and sharing holidays, as well as a 2026 filled with dialogue, cooperation, and shared ambition.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑊𝐻𝐶