Bulgaria Elected to UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
18 June 2026 News
The General Assembly of the States Parties to UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, meeting in Paris, elected Bulgaria by a large majority to serve on the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026 – 2030 term. The election took place on 17 June 2026 during the 11th session of the General Assembly, with Bulgaria receiving the highest number of votes among the candidates from its regional group.
Bulgaria has traditionally been among the active participants in UNESCO’s work. Thanks to the country's sustained efforts, a number of Bulgarian elements have been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Bulgaria is also home to the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe (Category 2 Centre) under the auspices of UNESCO.
Bulgaria’s election to the Committee in 2026 reaffirms the country's contribution to the work of the Organisation and lends additional significance to the 70th anniversary of Bulgaria's membership of UNESCO, the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, and the 20th anniversary of Bulgaria's ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.