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2025 UCCN Annual Conference

The 2025 Annual Conference of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) will be held from 23 to 24 June 2025 in collaboration with Enghien-les-Bains, a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts. This year’s Conference will explore the theme “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of UNESCO Creative Cities”.
Ville d'Enghien-les-Bains

The UCCN Annual Conference serves as a vital platform for Creative Cities worldwide to exchange ideas and initiatives, fostering culture-driven solutions to contemporary urban challenges. For this year’s edition, Creative Cities will come together to examine the evolving intersection of culture, innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainability. The Conference will provide an important space for cities to exchange and learn from good practices and initiatives, demonstrating how culture can be a transformative force in both local and global contexts.

Discussions will address both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI, emphasizing the importance of responsible, human-centered AI applications in cultural and creative sectors. The Conference will also explore the role of UNESCO Creative Cities in shaping inclusive and ethical environments and practices where AI empowers cultural and creative sectors. In this context, UNESCO’s , and other work in relevant areas, will guide discussions on aligning technological advancements with sustainable urban development.

The programme will feature diverse sessions including thematic discussions, notably surrounding innovation and cultural collaboration enabled by AI in Creative Cities. During the annual Mayors' Forum, city leaders will come together to share their experiences and strategies for integrating culture into urban development and policymaking. Complementing these sessions, the Creative Cities Fair will offer an interactive space for cities to showcase their cultural initiatives, engage in city-to-city exchanges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration.

Building on the momentum from last year’s UCCN Conference in Braga, Portugal, the 2025 Annual Conference will continue the work set forth by the UNESCO Creative Cities Braga Manifesto: A Culture Goal for Sustainable Development. This Manifesto, endorsed by Mayors of Creative Cities, calls for unified global efforts to recognize culture as a driver of sustainable development within the post-2030 agenda. It highlights the crucial role of cities in driving innovative cultural policies and integrating culture as a central pillar of future urban strategies.

Looking ahead, UNESCO and its Creative Cities are fully committed to leading the way towards a sustainable future where culture and creativity’s potential will further florish. Voices of cities gathered throughout the two-day conference will feed the upcoming World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development - MONDIACULT 2025.