Gabrovo is welcoming delegates from across the world—from Australia to Latin America—for the Annual Meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities.

From 17 to 19 September, Gabrovo will welcome delegates from different parts of the world for the Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Crafts and Folk Art.

The event, hosted by our city, will bring together representatives of Creative Cities from the international network for three days of professional exchange, discussions, new partnerships, and sharing of good practices. The hosting is a recognition of Gabrovo’s active role in the Network and of the city’s consistent efforts to connect its rich heritage with new forms of creativity and contemporary cultural practices.

THE POWER OF HUMAN CREATIVITY FOR A PEACEFUL WORLD

is the motto of this year’s meeting. It places the human being at the centre—skills, imagination, and the ability to create connections—especially important in a time of rapid technological change, artificial intelligence, and an increasingly fragile world.

The programme will open space for dialogue on the role of culture and creativity in building peaceful and sustainable cities. It will focus on themes such as safeguarding craft skills, the relationship between tradition and innovation, creative approaches to the public environment, support for cities and communities facing crises, and the role of international cooperation.

One of the highlights of the first day will be the Mayors’ Forum, which will provide an opportunity for representatives of different cities to share their experience—how culture helps communities navigate difficult moments, how human skills can coexist with technological progress, and how creativity and humour foster trust and connection.

As part of the programme, guests will explore the cultural identity of the city and visit emblematic places such as the Museum of Humor and Satire and the Regional Open-Air Ethnographic Museum “Etar”. Demonstrations and creative workshops are planned, along with meetings with local artists and craftspeople, and opportunities for participants to experience traditional techniques and skills themselves.

The Annual Meeting is much more than a professional forum. It is an opportunity to build new connections between cities, creators, institutions, and communities, to exchange knowledge, and to spark future joint initiatives.

Gabrovo was selected as host through a vote among the Creative Cities in the Crafts and Folk Art field, competing with Montecristi, Ecuador, and Areguá, Paraguay.

Hosting the event affirms Gabrovo as an active participant in international cultural dialogue and offers yet another opportunity for the city to demonstrate that tradition is not something static—it can be a source of ideas, creativity, and new horizons.

The event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, with the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-Eastern Europe under the auspices of UNESCO, in cooperation with the Regional Open-Air Ethnographic Museum “Etar”.