2026 in Busan

Session 48 of the World Heritage Committee (WHC)

61% 35
Paimio Sanitorium by Els Slots
Paimio Sanitorium by Els Slots 30

This page presents the potential candidates for discussion at the WHC meeting in 2026.

The candidates for 2026 are already quite firm, since they are in the official document List of nominations received by 31 January 2025 for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 48th session in 2026 (publicized May 2025). Additional nominations can come from sites that have been Referred in the past 3 years. Also, State Parties can decide to withdraw candidates before evaluation or discussion.

Session Information

Session
#48 (2026)
Dates
19 Jul 2026-29 Jul 2026
Chair
Republic of Korea in Busan
Chair
Republic of Korea
WHC Sessions
Vice Chairs
Rapporteur
Jamaica
Members
Useful Links
UNESCO
Links
All Links
Forum Discussion

Community

Visitors

    All Visitors
      Reserved for members.

      Forum

      Follow the discussion in our 2026 WHC.

      winterkjm@ Feb 15, 2026 10:02
      WHS 2026 (34 Nominations)

      Africa (5)
      - Historical Sultanates of the Comoros (Comoros)
      - Garamba National Park [re-nomination] (DRC)
      - …
      elsslots@ Feb 13, 2026 04:42
      A surprise emergency nomination from South Sudan:
      https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/south-sudan-validates-emergency-world-heritage-nomination-boma-badingilo-migratory-landscape
      winterkjm@ Jan 25, 2026 07:48
      elsslots:
      For 2026, I will add Gdynia - they got a Refer during the past session and have already announced …
      elsslots@ Dec 28, 2025 10:27
      I don't think we covered this before: the dates of the WHC in Busan 2026 are given as July 19-29. …
      winterkjm@ Dec 12, 2025 12:10
      Korea allocates 12 Million USD to host the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

      https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10633660

      An invite to …
      jonathanfr@ Nov 10, 2025 13:37
      D-Day Landing Beaches, Normandy, 1944

      In this link
      https://www.normandie.fr/les-plages-du-debarquement-patrimoine-mondial
      You can access "Consulter le dossier de candidature", in French but …
      winterkjm@ Aug 28, 2025 03:07
      winterkjm:
      Wadi Wurayah (United Arab Emirates)

      This was an interesting piece by the Dong A Ilbo (Korean newspaper) stating "Korea …
      elsslots@ Jul 15, 2025 13:45
      For 2026, I will add Gdynia - they got a Refer during the past session and have already announced to …
      winterkjm@ Jul 01, 2025 08:51
      If Korea is officially chosen (as expected) for host country, the host city will be Busan.

      https://m.koreaherald.com/article/10521144
      elsslots@ Jul 01, 2025 05:49
      Busan chosen as candidate to host UNESCO meeting on world heritage in 2026

      https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10521144

      WHC Events

      Le parc national de la Kibira
      Le parc national de la Kibira 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Successor to TWHS of the same name (2007-2026)

      Le parc national de la Ruvubu
      Le parc national de la Ruvubu 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Successor to TWHS of the same name (2007-2026)

      Le lac Tanganyika
      Le lac Tanganyika 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Successor to TWHS of the same name (2007-2026)

      Résidence Royale de Gishora
      Résidence Royale de Gishora 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Successor to La résidence royale du Burundi: Le cas de Gishora (2007-2026)

      Les Lacs du Nord du Burundi
      Les Lacs du Nord du Burundi 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Extended from "Rwihinda, lac aux oiseaux" (2007-2026) to become "Les Lacs du Nord du Burundi"

      Les Chutes de Karera
      Les Chutes de Karera 3 Feb 2026

      Revision: Split from Les chutes de la Karera et la faille de Nyakazu (2007-2026)

      Le rugo traditionnel du Mugamba
      Le rugo traditionnel du Mugamba 3 Feb 2026

      Removed from Tentative List: None

      La faille de Nyakazu 3 Feb 2026

      Added to Tentative List: Split from Les chutes de la Karera et la faille de Nyakazu (2007-2026)

      Beech Forests Extension (4 countries) 16 Jan 2026

      Added to Tentative List: None

      Cross River National Park 13 Jan 2026

      Revision: Includes FTWHS Oban Hills / Korup (1995-2026)

      Galápagos Islands (extension) 6 Jan 2026

      Added to Tentative List: None

      Sya, centre historique de Bobo-Dioulasso
      Sya, centre historique de Bobo-Dioulasso 5 Jan 2026

      Revision: Renomination of eponymous TWHS from 2012-2026

      Nominated