UNESCO World Heritage Committee Concludes 48th Session in Busan, South Korea, with 25 New Sites on July 29, 2026

Key facts

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee held its 48th session at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan, South Korea, concluding on July 29, 2026, after a 10-day session.
• It was the first UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting held in South Korea.
• The session added 25 new sites to the World Heritage List, bringing the total to 1,273 properties across 173 countries.
• Newly inscribed sites included Japan's Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological sites and France's Beaches of the D-Day Landings, Normandy, 1944.
• South Korea's Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats, had its boundaries extended to additional tidal flat areas on the western and southern coasts.
• The committee reviewed the conservation status of 148 properties and placed six on the List of World Heritage in Danger, including Tyre in Lebanon and Paramaribo's historic inner city in Suriname.
• Vienna's historic centre was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, a decision that drew criticism from heritage experts and delegations.
• Delegates discussed ways to boost representation for Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Turkey was selected to host the next World Heritage Committee session in Istanbul and will take the chair by custom.
• Turkey previously hosted the 40th session in Istanbul in July 2016, but it was disrupted by a military coup attempt and resumed at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.