The city of Essaouira will host the 18th session of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference in 2026, the United Nations organization announced on Monday. According to a statement from UNESCO, the decision was made following an online vote by member cities of the network, during which Essaouira received the highest number of votes among the candidate cities. It thus becomes «the first city in Africa and the Arab world to host the Network's Annual Conference». Since being designated a Creative City in the field of music in 2019, Essaouira has distinguished itself through «its commitment to cultural and creative sectors, with a particular focus on music», the UN agency noted. It highlighted landmark festivals such as Gnaoua, World Music, and Jazz Under the Argan Tree as evidence of «the cultural richness of Essaouira, a crossroads city where local traditions are woven into a deeply plural identity». The UNESCO Creative Cities Annual Conference serves as a key platform for the network's 350 member cities to «exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen international cooperation in culture and sustainable urban development». According to the same source, the 2026 edition in Essaouira will focus on a specific theme—yet to be announced—alongside discussions on sustaining local policies and actions that support cultural and creative industries. It will also provide a unique opportunity to showcase «the rich cultural heritage and vibrant creativity of this Moroccan city». UNESCO's collaboration with Essaouira in organizing the conference will contribute to the expansion of the Creative Cities Network and serve as a follow-up to the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (Mondiacult 2025). It will also support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
