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Timbuktu (Mali) is back in the OWHC network!

The Organisation of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) is delighted to announce Timbuktu’s return as a member city in good standing.

This reinstatement follows on from discussions held during the meeting of sub-Saharan African cities organised in Lamu (Kenya) in December 2025.

The participation of Mr. Yéhia Tandina, Mayor of Timbuktu, and Mr. El-Boukhari Ben Essayouti, Head of the Timbuktu Cultural Mission, at the meeting marked an important step in strengthening ties with the Organisation.

The city’s representatives expressed their desire to renew their collaboration with the OWHC and to contribute actively to the network’s work.

Timbuktu’s return follows the recent accession of the cities of Djenné (Mali), Agadez (Niger) and Saint-Louis (Senegal), which joined the Organisation earlier this year, thereby strengthening the African presence within the network. In addition to the other members, the OWHC now has six members in good standing from the sub-Saharan African region.

Registration for the 18th World Congress and the Loyalty Reward Program are now launched!

It’s time to register for the 18th OWHC World Congress, which will take place in Marrakech (Morocco) from October 26 to 29, 2026, under the theme “The New Urban Process: Toward Habitability of Historic Centers.” Visit the official congress website to register: https://www.ovpmmarrakech2026.com

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The OWHC is pleased to welcome back the City of Saint-Louis (Senegal) as an active member of our international network.

Following the meeting held in Lamu, Kenya, in December 2025 — where sub-Saharan African cities came together to contribute to the OWHC’s New Urban Process — the Mayor of Saint-Louis, Mr. Amadou Mansour Faye, officially renewed the city’s membership after more than 20 years.

After the recent return of Djenné (Mali) and Agadez (Niger), Saint-Louis’ renewed commitment reflects the growing mobilization of African World Heritage cities within the OWHC.

By rejoining the organization, Saint-Louis strengthens a shared dynamic of cooperation, exchange of expertise and urban innovation adapted to the realities of historic cities.

The OWHC warmly welcomes Saint-Louis back into its network and looks forward to continuing this collective work for more resilient, vibrant and sustainable historic centres.

🌍 Marrakech 2026 is coming.

From October 26 to 29, the 18th World Congress of the OWHC will bring together member cities for a pivotal moment in our collective journey. Centered on the theme “The New Urban Project: Toward Habitability of Historic Centers,” this congress marks a decisive step forward.

Since Quebec City in 2022, where we acknowledged the urgency of the crises affecting our historic centers, and Córdoba in 2024, where we affirmed habitability as a shared response, our network has been building a common vision. In Marrakech, we move from reflection to action.

This congress will introduce the OWHC’s New Urban Project, a structured and evolving framework designed to support cities in addressing the real challenges of habitability. Developed through an unprecedented collaborative effort involving more than half of our members, it represents a collective ambition to rethink how we act within historic urban spaces.

Marrakech 2026 will also be a key moment for the life of our organization, as member cities come together to shape the next Action Plan and define priorities for the years ahead.

More than ever, this gathering will be an opportunity to share perspectives, strengthen cooperation, and collectively shape the future of our historic centers.

We look forward to welcoming you in Marrakech.

The OWHC is pleased to announce the accession of two new member cities: Djenné, Mali, and Agadez, Niger. These two iconic cities enrich our international network with their exceptional sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Located in the inner Niger Delta, Djenné is world-renowned for its remarkable earthen architecture and the historic ensemble of the Old Town of Djenné, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988. A true symbol of Sahelian architectural genius, the city is particularly notable for its famous Great Mosque, considered one of the largest earthen buildings in the world. Djenné bears witness to an ancient urban and commercial tradition that played a major role in cultural and economic exchanges in West Africa.

For its part, the city of Agadez in Niger is home to the Historic Center of Agadez, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013. A former caravan city in the heart of the Sahara, Agadez developed as an important crossroads for trans-Saharan trade and a major center of Tuareg culture. Its earthen urban fabric, dominated by the imposing minaret of the Great Mosque of Agadez—the tallest adobe minaret in the world—illustrates the remarkable adaptation of architecture to the climatic and cultural conditions of the desert.

The inscription of these sites on the World Heritage List recognizes their Outstanding Universal Value, particularly for their unique testimony to the cultural traditions, historical exchanges, and forms of urbanism specific to Sahelian civilizations.

By joining the OWHC, Djenné and Agadez are committing to actively participate in sharing experiences, good practices, and knowledge with other member cities in the network. Their presence strengthens the cultural and geographic diversity of our organization.

Let us warmly welcome Djenné and Agadez to our international network dedicated to the protection and enhancement of World Heritage cities!

𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐈𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐎𝐒 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬

Following the work done on the Framework about Cultural Tourism from ICOMOS ICTC, ICOMOS would like to forward to OWHC member cities this invitation for a webinar series to promote the application of their ICTC Tourism Charter:

From Principles to Practice: Operationalising the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

Their aim is to create a focused space for exchange where ICOMOS members and key partners can share experiences, present ongoing work, and engage in discussion on the practical application of the Charter across different contexts.

The webinars will take place monthly at 13:00 CET on the following dates:

• 25 February – Introduction to ICTC, the Charter & Charter Operationalisation (ChOp)
• 25 March – Principles 1 & 2 (Planning, Visitor Management, Inclusive Governance)
• 22 April – Principle 3 (Knowledge, Interpretation, Education)
• 27 May – Principles 4 & 5 (Community, Local Development, Benefit-sharing)
• 24 June – Principles 6 & 7 (Climate Action, Sustainability, Long-term Management)

Webinar on Cultural Heritage Tourism: Principles to Practice - ICOMOS Engage with experts in cultural heritage tourism through the ICTC Webinar Series and help examine the practical implementation of the ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (2022).

Submit a structuring project for the 2026 Jean-Paul-L'Allier Prize

The Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026 edition of the Jean-Paul-L'Allier Prize. This prize recognises outstanding projects implemented by member cities that contribute significantly to the enhancement, regeneration and sustainable management of their historic centres.

For this edition, the Prize invites member cities to submit structural and cross-cutting projects that promote the regeneration of historic centres through strategies focused on habitability. These initiatives must have already been implemented and place residents at the heart of public decisions, demonstrating concrete and lasting effects on their quality of life.

The mayor of the winning city will be a guest of honour at the 18th World Congress of the OWHC, which will take place in Marrakech from 26 to 29 October 2026. During this event, the winning project will be announced and presented.

Applications are open until 8 May 2026. For more information on applications, visit our website (link available in bio).

Member cities are invited to propose projects that use heritage as a lever for urban regeneration!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓!

As we enter the new year, the General Secretariat would like to warmly thank all member cities for their intense and generous participation in the Organization's activities in 2025. The Quebec Roadmap and the Cordoba Path have reached a decisive stage that brings us closer to the New Urban Project.

In 2026, we will meet in Marrakech for the 18th OWHC World Congress. This event will mark the culmination of an unprecedented collaborative effort undertaken in 2022 and will open a new phase of cooperation for our members.

During this festive season, the entire team at the General Secretariat wishes you peaceful, convivial, and sharing holidays, as well as a 2026 filled with dialogue, cooperation, and shared ambition.

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑊𝐻𝐶

The OWHC held its first-ever meeting dedicated to Sub-Saharan African World Heritage Cities in Lamu, Kenya. Over two days, representatives from seven cities gathered for a workshop to contribute to the development of the New Urban Project (NUP), the Organization's program aimed at regenerating historic centers through urban strategies focused on habitability.

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝

The discussions highlighted several challenges common to the participating cities:
• rising sea levels and desertification;
• the impacts of the climate crisis on built heritage and infrastructure;
• mobility management in cities not designed for motor vehicles;
• waste management and health issues;
• the balance between tourism development and quality of life;
• reconciling new urban needs with the preservation of authenticity.

𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Several non-member cities expressed their desire to join the Organization. Together, the participants agreed to create a regional collaboration framework—the Lamu Group—to actively contribute to the ongoing work leading up to the presentation of the New Urban Project at the 18th OWHC World Congress, to be held in Marrakech from October 26 to 29, 2026.

𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

The OWHC warmly thanks the mayors and representatives of the cities of Agadez (Niger), Chinguetti (Mauritania), Cidade Velha (Cape Verde), Harar (Ethiopia), Saint-Louis (Senegal), and Timbuktu (Mali) for their rich and generous contributions.
Our thanks also go to CHiFA, a partner of the OWHC, as well as to the institutions and organizations that participated in the workshop: Lamu Museum, Friends of Lamu Cultural Heritage, UNESCO – Regional Office for East Africa, UN-Habitat-Regional Office for Africa, and World Monuments Fund.