Türkiye’s Istanbul has been selected to host the 49th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2027, marking the return of the major cultural heritage gathering to the country after more than a decade.

The decision was announced during the committee’s 48th session in Busan, South Korea, with Istanbul chosen as the venue for next year’s meeting, The Caspian Post reports via Yonhap.

According to the Turkish delegation, the 49th session will take place from June 27 to July 7, 2027. Türkiye will also assume the chairmanship of the committee next year, in line with established practice.

Armenia, Grenada, Vietnam, Tanzania and Kuwait were elected as vice-chairs for the upcoming session.

Istanbul previously hosted the World Heritage Committee’s 40th session in July 2016. However, proceedings were interrupted by a military coup attempt in Türkiye. The meeting later resumed at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, three months after the disruption.

The 2027 session is expected to draw renewed international attention to heritage preservation, conservation and the protection of culturally significant sites around the world.

The announcement comes after the 48th session in Busan added 25 new properties to the UNESCO World Heritage List, further expanding the global inventory of sites recognized for their outstanding cultural or natural value.