Lucknow, the city of Nawabs, known for its Awadhi cuisine, architectural marvels and poetic past, has added another feather to its cap. On World Cities Day (Friday), during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, the Uttar Pradesh capital was officially declared a UNESCO ‘City of Creative Cuisine’, joining the city among 70 global culinary centres.
Welcoming the move, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said that culinary tourism has been attracting tourists to the state for a long time and this status will help the state further promote this sector. “Culinary tourism has been attracting tourists to Uttar Pradesh for generations and the state has immense potential to lead the sector in the coming years,” he said.
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The state’s tourism directorate submitted Lucknow’s nomination to the Ministry of Culture on January 31, 2025, and the Government of India selected the city as the country’s official entry on March 3, 2025. UNESCO’s announcement on October 31 formally confirms the city’s entry into the Creative Cities Network, officials said.
Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Amrit Abhijat said that the food culture of Lucknow, from royal kitchens to street vendors, has been attracting tourists for a long time and the UNESCO tag will further enhance this reach. He cited recent tourist arrival numbers to underline the sector’s momentum: “In 2024, Lucknow is expected to receive approximately 8,274,154 tourists (domestic and foreign) in the first half of 2025 alone, with over 7,020,492 tourists arriving in the first half of 2025 alone, demonstrating how food and culture are driving tourism growth.”
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Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has named 58 cities as new members of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network. The list now includes 408 cities from more than 100 countries. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, has been recognized in the “Culinary Art” category.
“A proud moment for India,” India’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO said in a post on social media on Friday. Lucknow’s rich culinary heritage has now been recognized on the global stage!” The delegation said, ”Lucknow has been designated ‘UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy’ on the occasion of World Cities Day 2025 (30 October). Along with Lucknow, 58 new cities have got a place in the ‘UNESCO Creative Cities Network’ (UCCN).UCCN now includes 408 cities in more than 100 countries.
Lucknow is famous for its rich and traditional cuisine, ranging from chaat to Awadhi dishes and delicious sweets. Announced on World Cities Day, the honor honors cities for “their commitment to fostering creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development.”
“UNESCO’s Creative Cities show that culture and the creative industries can be strong drivers of development,” Azoulay said. By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a network where creativity supports local initiatives, attracts investment and promotes social cohesion.” Founded in 2004, UCCN aims to foster collaboration between cities that leverage culture and creativity to promote inclusive and sustainable development.It supports initiatives that create employment, promote cultural vibrancy and strengthen social cohesion.
UNESCO said the newly named creative cities also include Kisumu (Kenya) and New Orleans (USA) for music, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for design, Matosinhos (Portugal) and Cuenca (Ecuador) for gastronomy, Giza (Egypt) for film, Rovaniemi (Finland) for architecture, Malang (Indonesia) for media arts and Aberystwyth (UK) for literature. These include examples of how local creativity fosters a distinct cultural expertise and generates economic dynamism along with social cohesion. The ‘Creative Cities’ will converge in Essaouira (Morocco) for the Network’s Annual Conference 2026. Essaouira was ranked in the list of creative cities for music in 2019.