UN launches International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development
The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2027–2036 as the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, creating a ten-year global framework aimed at strengthening the role of culture in sustainable development policies.
The resolution, initiated by Viet Nam and co-sponsored by 103 UN Member States, was adopted on 4 September 2026 with 174 votes in favour, one against (USA) and no abstentions. UNESCO will lead the implementation of the Decade and will develop an Action Plan in consultation with Member States, UN entities and other stakeholders.
The initiative builds on growing international recognition of culture’s role in sustainable development. The 2024 Pact for the Future committed UN Member States to integrating culture into economic, social and environmental policies and strategies and to ensuring adequate public investment in its protection and promotion. The 2025 Sevilla Commitment also called for adequate public financing for culture and investment in cultural infrastructure. At MONDIACULT 2025, more than 100 culture ministers went further, reaffirming their ambition to establish culture as an independent goal in the global development framework that will succeed the Sustainable Development Goals after 2030.
The new Decade will cover the final four years of the current 2030 Agenda and extend into the first years of its successor, potentially providing an important political framework through which culture can gain a more systematic place in future global development policies, financing and monitoring.
The next important step will be the preparation of the Action Plan for the Decade. UNESCO says that its implementation will involve governments, international organisations, civil society, cultural professionals, communities and financing partners.
