UNESCO adds 25 new sites to World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has added 25 new sites to the World Heritage List following its 48th meeting in Busan, South Korea. The new additions consist of 19 cultural sites, five natural sites, and one site combining both cultural and natural values.

Notably, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe, and South Sudan have each seen their first sites inscribed on the list. The expanded list now includes a total of 1,273 sites across 173 countries.

Among the new entries are the D-Day beaches in France, Mount Olympus in Greece, and the town of Sidi Bou Said in Tunisia. Other recognized locations include the Xiongnu ancient cemeteries in Mongolia, rubber boom Amazonian theaters in Brazil, and the Jingdezhen porcelain production area in China. In Japan, the ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara were recognized, while Finland added the Aalto Works architectural complex.

In addition to the new inscriptions, the Committee added six sites to the List of World Heritage in Danger and approved a strategy for Small Island Developing States for 2026–2034.