Algiers, December 13, 2025 – Algeria has been elected as Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for 2026, according to a statement released today by the Ministry of Culture and Arts.
The election took place during the 20th ordinary session of the committee, held Friday in New Delhi. Algeria will serve as Vice-Chair for the 21st session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee.
The Ministry’s statement further indicated that the 21st session is scheduled to take place in Xiamen, People’s Republic of China, from November 30th to December 5th, 2026.
The Intergovernmental Committee is the legislative body of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Convention and evaluating nominations for inscription on the World Heritage lists.
The Ministry emphasized that this prestigious election serves as international recognition of Algeria’s leading role and its ongoing efforts in preserving and protecting humanity’s cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the election to this significant position provides Algeria with an enhanced opportunity to contribute to shaping policies and guiding international efforts aimed at safeguarding the intangible heritage of humanity. It underscores Algeria’s commitment to supporting fair and sustainable cultural heritage initiatives. This position will allow Algeria to further influence the direction of global heritage preservation efforts.
