From July 19 to 29, 2026, the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is taking place in Busan, Republic of Korea. This is the first session hosted by South Korea. The Committee is considering around 30 new nominations (plus several extensions and re-nominations of existing sites), as well as the state of conservation of 147 sites already inscribed on the List.
The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is transforming ancient legends, fragile ecosystems, and traces of human history into the common heritage of humankind.
Imagine: Mount Olympus—the very place where Zeus and the other Olympian gods were said to reside—finally receives official recognition. Its snow-capped peaks, deep gorges, and unique nature are now protected not only by Greek myths but also by international status. Alongside it are the coral gardens of the Gulf of Aqaba, the northernmost tropical reefs in the world. Here, corals have learned to survive in conditions that would be fatal for most of their kind. Now, these living underwater cities are protected by World Heritage status.
In India, the sacred Sarnath, the place where Buddha delivered his first sermon, becomes the country's 45th site on the List. In Japan, the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara—the cradle of Japanese statehood—gain global protection. And in the mountains of Iran, the castles of Alamut, once impregnable fortresses of the Ismailis, now belong not just to history, but to all of humanity.
These decisions are not mere bureaucratic checkboxes. They are an act of collective memory. In a world where the climate is changing, conflicts erupt, and tourism often destroys what it admires, World Heritage status becomes a shield. It says: 'This place is important not just for one country. It is important for all of us.'
The session in Busan is the first hosted by South Korea. It is symbolic that it is here, at the crossroads of East and West, that heritage belonging to the whole world is being discussed. While delegates debate, vote, and discuss details, somewhere on Olympus the morning mist rises, in Aqaba corals shimmer, and in Sarnath pilgrims still circle the stupa.
Humanity is once again choosing beauty, memory, and responsibility. And in this choice, there is something very human—and very important.
And here is the status as of July 27, 2026 (decisions on nominations were mainly made between July 24-27):
- Mount Olympus Area (Greece) — Mixed (Natural and Cultural) site. Successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List. The mythological homeland of the Olympian gods received recognition for its natural value (altitude 2918 m, rich biodiversity) and its cultural significance.
- Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba —Aqaba Marine Protected Area (Jordan) — Inscribed. These are the northernmost tropical coral reefs in the world with unique thermotolerance.Saudi Arabia's nomination for the coral reefs of the Gulf of Aqaba was also considered.
- Ancient Capitals of Japan (Asuka and Fujiwara) — Cultural site (Nara Prefecture). Inscribed. This is Japan's 27th site on the List.
- Sarnath Buddhist Complex (India, near Varanasi) — Site of Buddha's first sermon. Inscribed on July 25, 2026. It became India's 45th site on the World Heritage List.
- Castles of Alamut and Related Fortifications (Iran) — 11th–13th century fortresses of the Nizari Ismailis. Inscribed.
Other Notable Decisions from the Session
Among other confirmed sites are:
- D-Day Landing Beaches (Normandy, France)
- Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Sites (China)
- Aqaba Marine Protected Area (Jordan)
- Okefenokee (USA)
- Several sites under an emergency procedure (with simultaneous inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger): Landscape of the Boma-Badillngilo Migration (South Sudan), Castles of Jabal Amel (Lebanon), Sebastia (Palestine).
The session is not yet over (it runs until July 29), so the full final list of new sites will be known in the coming days. Official decisions and documents are published on the website of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
