UNESCO Cities of Music

Nikšić, the second-largest city in Montenegro, carries a strong and authentic musical identity shaped by a unique blend of tradition and contemporary cultural movements. Often recognized as the heart of rock and roll in the region, the city became a hub for alternative and urban music during the late 20th century, fostering generations of artists who defined a bold, expressive, and distinctive sound. Music in Nikšić is more than entertainment, it is a way of life, a form of social dialogue, and a powerful means of connecting people.

A defining feature of Nikšić’s musical culture is its ability to balance heritage with innovation. While modern bands and artists actively contribute to rock, alternative, hip-hop, and electronic scenes, the deeply rooted tradition of gusle and epic singing continues to play an important role in preserving collective memory and cultural identity. This coexistence of traditional and contemporary expressions creates a unique cultural dialogue, where the past and present enrich one another and inspire future creativity.

Nikšić has built a strong cultural infrastructure that supports artistic development and musical expression. The city hosts numerous festivals, concerts, and cultural events that bring together local and international performers, contributing to a dynamic and inclusive cultural landscape. Over the years, Nikšić has produced influential musicians and bands whose impact extends beyond national borders, helping to shape the wider regional music scene and strengthening the city’s reputation as a center of creativity.

As a UNESCO City of Music, Nikšić demonstrates a clear commitment to nurturing its musical heritage while investing in future growth. The city is actively working on initiatives that support young musicians, encourage music education, and promote collaboration across genres and cultures. Projects aimed at revitalizing public spaces through music, developing creative industries, and strengthening international partnerships reflect a forward-looking vision that places music at the core of sustainable urban development.

Through its rich legacy, vibrant present, and ambitious plans for the future, Nikšić stands as a city where music thrives in all its forms. Its dedication to artistic freedom, cultural diversity, and community engagement embodies the values of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

Nikšić also holds the title of European Capital of Culture for 2030.

New Orleans is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Built at the bend of the Mississippi River and on the resilience of its people, it is profoundly old yet eternally new—a cultural melting pot shaped by French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences. Founded in 1718, the city has weathered natural disasters and economic shifts while remaining a global beacon of culture. Its geography—cradled by waterways and marshlands—has shaped an identity where music pulses on every corner. Neighborhoods like the French Quarter and Tremé stand as vibrant testaments to a layered history of Creoles, African Americans, Cajuns, and immigrants. As a UNESCO City of Music, New Orleans recognizes a dual reality: we are a city of unparalleled heritage yet we grapple with economic inequality and climate vulnerability. We are uniquely positioned to address these challenges by leveraging music as a tool for social cohesion and sustainable development. By aligning our creative economy with UN Sustainable Development Goal Targets 8.6 and 8.9, we ensure our cultural assets drive dignified employment and urban resilience.

Our commitment is backed by tangible accomplishments. In the last four years, the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) has awarded 295 music-related grants totaling over $4.5 million. To stabilize our creative class, we launched the Musician’s Resilience Fund and the Embrace the Culture series, which revitalized the sector through neighborhood-based performances. The NOLA x NOLA initiative further galvanized the scene, creating over 300 performances in its inaugural year to support local venues. We have also revolutionized cultural governance; the 2022 establishment of the Office of Nighttime Economy now facilitates vital dialogue between artists and policymakers. Furthermore, we have set a new industry standard by mandating a $200 minimum hourly pay rate for musicians in city-contracted gigs. To enhance visibility, our Artist Database partnership with WWOZ connects local talent with global corporate and festival opportunities, ensuring equitable access to the marketplace. These initiatives demonstrate a dedicated effort to nurture an ecosystem where tradition meets innovation, creating a thriving environment for our primary culture bearers.

Looking forward, New Orleans is working to expand grassroots music education and integrate sustainability into our cultural infrastructure. We are actively fostering innovation by adopting green practices at major festivals to mitigate our environmental footprint. By investing in this ecosystem, we ensure that tourism supports local communities while preserving our unique heritage. From the rhythmic energy of a second line to the preservation of our historic streetscapes, every creative endeavor fuels our economy and identity. Our journey as a UNESCO City of Music is about more than just celebrating the past; it is about building a future where creativity creates opportunity for all. New Orleans has welcomed the world for centuries, and we now stand ready to share our boundless love of culture and our proven models for creative resilience with the global UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

A City of Peace, Evian is a hospitable place for international dialogue and cooperation, such as the 1938 Conference of Shame, the 1962 Evian Accords, the G8 in 2003 and the G7 announced for June 2026.
Committed to sustainable development, the city was invited to co-chair the International Mayors Forum in Geneva in 2023, and was invited to the UN High-Level Political Forum in New York in July 2022 and 2023.
Evian is a spa town, a holiday destination for artists and creators: Gabriel Fauré, Igor Stravinsky, Marcel Proust, Anna de Noailles, the Lumière brothers, and many others. Numerous entertainment facilities were created to distinguish the town and attract high society, in a dynamic that continues to this day.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Hotel Royal and the thermal baths were built, as well as the casino and its theater and the Buvette Cachat. The Buvette Cachat, an architectural masterpiece, was a place of socializing and entertainment, particularly musical entertainment. It was replaced in the 1960s by the Buvette Jean Prouvé-Maurice Novarina.
In 1993, the water company built the Grange au Lac, dedicated to cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, artistic director of the Rencontres musicales d’Evian. In 2006, the former thermal baths became the Palais Lumière and now houses a media library, major art exhibitions, an auditorium, and a conference center.

In 2026, the story continues with the construction of the Source Vive, a 500-seat hall dedicated to chamber music.
Today, it offers an ambitious cultural program of more than 500 events per year to 2.5 million annual visitors and residents.
The city of Evian has an exceptional cultural heritage and a dynamic network of stakeholders.
An entire ecosystem exists in the area, in addition to La Grange au Lac – Evian Resort. The city has rallied around a strong cultural project, focused on attractiveness and access to culture for a wide audience. Numerous associations are supported by the municipality, which has a conservatory within its services. The conservatory has become the bridgehead of the city’s performing arts network. In this way, all the associations and partners work together to build a coordinated program and collaborative projects throughout the year.
With its rich ecosystem, natural heritage, and history of thermal baths, Evian has been a place of hospitality, experimentation, and cultural engagement for nearly 150 years.
Our vision: to make culture a lever for transformation in our territory, and to use projects as accelerators of change.

 The Libertador Municipality of Caracas, capital of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, has stood out since 1769 for its contributions to the world of music; Between the 19th and 20th centuries, classical composers stand out such as the renowned pianist and composer Teresa Carreño or Vicente Emilio Sojo, founder of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, the oldest of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean, also in 1975. El Sistema Nacional de Orquestas y Coros de Venezuela, is created, also currently having around 61 cultural infrastructures used for musical presentations, such as concerts, festivals, meetings, etc. 

As part of its cultural ecosystem, you can see multiple options for musical practice, training and expression, among the different communities and the various population groups of the city, achieving the coexistence of various musical genres that highlight the cultural richness of the capital of Caracas. 

For Caracas, the use of music, as a cultural resource, has a significant impact on the sustainable urban development of the creative and inclusive city, forming a conglomerate of cultural-artistic, aesthetic, symbolic and spiritual goods and services, from certain organizations. 

Objectives of Caracas Musical City within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network: 

1. Promote the planning of local economic, cultural and social development strategies based on the cultural and creative economy of music; 

2. Promote the creation and development of productive ventures in the cultural and creative industries associated with the city’s musical ecosystem; 

3. Contribute to the professionalization of creators, artists and institutions that participate in different sub-sectors within the Creative Music Industry. 

Da Lat city, Lam Dong province is a famous “Safe – Civilized – Friendly” tourist destination that attracts domestic and foreign tourists. The Da Lat tourism brand is gradually being affirmed on the tourism map of Vietnam and the region with outstanding values of natural landscapes, diverse and attractive natural tourism resources system; architectural works with high cultural – artistic value, distinctive cultural features have contributed to the formation of rich and diverse tourism products, especially the lifestyle “Gentle – Elegant – Hospitable”. The city has long been favored by tourists for beautiful titles such as: the city of love, the city of fog, the land of flowers or more specifically the origin of famous love songs… Over the past time, Da Lat city has been recognized by international organizations with titles such as: “Vietnam Smart City” Award in 2021; Da Lat 02 times was recognized as “ASEAN Clean Tourism City” and is one of the romantic destinations of Asia; “Asian Flower Festival and ecotourism 2024” award.

On October 31, 2023, Da Lat city officially became the next member of Vietnam to join UNESCO’s Global Network of Creative Cities in the field of music. Joining the creative city network has created a premise, effectively supporting the city in promoting cultural foreign relations, developing the cultural industry with advantages associated with local tourism development, especially the advantage of developing music tourism products.

Becoming a UNESCO city of music will create a premise in the near future to make Da Lat a key connection between Vietnamese music and international, among cities in the network of music creation cities, especially in the Asia-Pacific region; Attracting music projects and events, international training and accommodation programs will be implemented in Da Lat, thereby contributing to improving high-quality music human resources, Develop a music community with diverse tastes, create a favorable environment for investment and business activities of creative enterprises; Mobilize initial local, national and Asian resources to continue to spread Da Lat’s music heritage including folk songs, folk dances, especially the Central Highlands gongs; at the same time develop contemporary types of music and discover new interactions of music types; Network connection, development Partnership – cooperation, thereby diversifying music practices, nurturing highly skilled and specialized music human resources and a music community with high-quality music taste. Thereby, contributing to the development of Da Lat’s music industry.

Therefore, in the coming time, Da Lat city will actively implement commitments to join UNESCO’s network of creative cities in the field of music in order to achieve the goals of the local (city-level) network by promoting the role of culture and creativity in the sustainable development of the city and at the same time implementing major initiatives/programs to achieve the goals of the Network at the international level, especially projects with Related to other member cities in the Network, contributing to making Da Lat a Vietnamese and international music destination. 

Montreux: where music and the beauty of the landscape meet

Nestled between Lake Geneva and the Alps, Montreux enjoys spectacular landscapes and a gentle way of life which, already in the 18th century, attracted the great names of literature and music. Montreux is divided between remarkable Belle Époque style buildings, flowery quays and steep streets of its old town.

This magnificent setting has hosted the Montreux Jazz Festival for 58 years, voted best European festival in 2023, the Septembre Musical, an essential classical music festival since 1946, and the Montreux Choral Festival and the Cultural Season, which anchor popular music throughout the year. year round in the heart of the city.

Historically, the 1961 Rose d’Or Festival was the first festival organized in Montreux. This international variety show competition subsequently revealed many talents, such as Monty Python, the musical Hair, Benny Hill, Mister Bean, the Russian clown Popov or the Muppet Show.

In parallel with the Rose d’Or, the “Montreux Pop Festival” and the “Montreux Rock Festival” were created. Such famous names as Sting, Freddie Mercury, Elton John and many other renowned singers and musicians have given concerts there.

Over the years, these international events have become essential meetings for fans of music, shows and the performing arts.

For Montreux, festivals represent an extraordinary musical and cultural heritage. Like Claude Nobs, founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, its directors and partners have demonstrated great modernity and openness to new technologies and trends, always reinventing themselves and developing new concepts and unique events.

Today, the musical offering is complemented by excellent music venues such as the Montreux Vevey Riviera Conservatory, the NED Music Club, the Casino, the Funky Claude’s Bar, the Claude Nobs Foundation and its Chalets or the Queen Studio Experience that brings the city to life to the rhythm of music. The Montreux Exhibition and Congress Center (2m2c), and its famous Stravinsky Auditorium, is at the heart of this musical excitement. This hall with its extraordinary acoustics hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, becoming a symbol of the city’s vibrant music scene. From intimate bars to larger concert halls, the diversity of venues allows a multitude of musical genres to flourish, providing a varied and captivating musical experience.

This blend of musical heritage and scenic beauty makes it a captivating destination for music lovers and travelers alike. It is therefore natural that Montreux cultivates the tradition of hospitality, being, among other things, equipped with a quality hotel portfolio and an internationally renowned congress and music center. Its international schools linked to hospitality also ensure that values ​​of excellence are transmitted to students around the world.

Whether exploring the historical origins of jazz or witnessing innovative performances, music lovers are sure to be immersed in a world where music resonates against a backdrop of alpine majesty.

Current musical projects:

Infrastructure development: Montreux is investing in new cultural and artistic spaces to support the local and international music scene. Recording studios, rehearsal spaces and multifunctional cultural centers are being built to stimulate the creativity of artists.

Musical education: Montreux promotes musical training by collaborating with local and international institutions. Educational programs, workshops and artist residencies provide young talents with the opportunity to develop their skills and connect with industry professionals.

Promotion of diversity: Montreux celebrates musical diversity by highlighting artists from different cultural and musical backgrounds. Thematic festivals and cross-border collaborations are encouraged to celebrate the richness of world music and foster cultural exchange.

An ambitious action plan

• deploy music in urban development
• encourage the emergence of young talents
• bring to life, at local and international levels, the musical creativity which is already part of the city’s DNA
• revalue and put into perspective the history of Montreux music

Music has since the late 19th century been the language of encounters between the different cultures inhabiting this borderland. The Monteverdi Conservatory has contributed to the city’s reputation for musical excellence: Bolzano is home to the Busoni Piano Competition, since 1949 recognised as one of the most prestigious international competitions. The residencies of the European Union Youth Orchestra, the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and the Gustav Mahler Academy for advanced students – all projects initiated by Maestro Claudio Abbado – enliven summer in Bolzano. Bolzano is also home to the Haydn Orchestra, established in 1960 as a regional reference point for musical listening and education. The Konzertverein, founded in 1855, is still offering an excellent chamber music program. The city hosts international festivals in various creative fields each year: the Bolzano Film Festival, featuring the works of young European directors; the Südtirol Jazzfestival; Bolzano Danza, a reference point for contemporary dance; Transart, a festival of music, contemporary art and experimentation; and the food festivals that celebrate the meeting of two cuisines, namely genuine mountain cookery and the more refined Mediterranean approach.

Cultural associations, choirs and folk music bands enliven the city’s cultural everyday life.

The designation reaffirms the work that Bolzano has been doing for many years in the fields of music and culture, offering the opportunity to create new local/international collaborations and to share knowledge, experiences within the network in all sectors.

Bolzano’s proposed projects intend to focus on culture as a strategic factor for sustainable development:

• to make the city more inclusive via the power of music as a tool for dialogue between generations and for involving the new citizens in our border region;
• to increase the involvement of younger audiences, offering creativity in general as an opportunity for personal and professional growth;
• to use digital technology to keep abreast of the times and, with other international entities, to share the vast potential offered by new technologies for the access to and use of music;
• to foster and contribute to the growth of a world where inequalities can be further reduced.

We’re convinced that music is able to break down the boundaries of individuals, tuning emotions on a common channel and teaching us every day to listen to each other. Music is the language that can lead to a mature, just and sustainable social dimension. Music can unite peoples in common feelings under the sign of peace.

Photo credits:
Main image: Become Ocean – Orchestra Haydn Orchester – Transart16 © Transart – Photo: Gregor Khuen Belasi
Slider images: EUYO, 2014 Vasily Petrenko© BolzanoFestivalBozen Photo: Gregor Khuen Belasi | Carmens Souza, Ella, 2023 Auditorium Bolzano Bozen

Legend has it that the composer Emmerich Kálmán met a certain countess named Marica in Varaždin, after whom he not only named his famous operetta but also dedicated its most renowned song, “Komm mit nach Varaždin,” to the city. For decades, his iconic operetta has delighted audiences worldwide and brought fame to Varaždin, a city that has always been an inspiration to artists. Many musicians have found inspiration in Varaždin, shaping the city’s culture and contributing to its rich musical heritage, which Varaždin proudly boasts. Among them is the hometown of the virtuoso guitarist and composer Ivan Padovec, known worldwide for his invention – the ten-string guitar.

Today, Varaždin’s musical treasure chest preserves invaluable musical riches, from the Music School, one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in Croatia, nurturing world-class musicians, to renowned musicians, successful vocal ensembles, cultural associations, instrument makers, international music competitions, and a plethora of cultural music events, concerts of all genres, and renowned festivals with a long tradition. In addition to its architecture, Varaždin’s baroque legacy is deeply rooted in its music, which has been promoted for over half a century by the Varaždin Baroque Evenings, one of the world’s most eminent festivals of its kind. Today, Varaždin’s most recognizable brand is Špancirfest, Croatia’s most famous street festival, which transforms the streets and squares into centers of music, art, and entertainment at the end of summer.

Varaždin pulsates with music throughout the year, offering a variety of genres and musical content, innovative projects, and opportunities to enjoy music, such as music on balconies, musical-instrumental programs on the organs in Varaždin Cathedral, or  innovative musical box on wheels that provide a unique experience in the main city square. An indispensable attraction is the Verglec, a mechanical musical device that is hand-operated and reproduces specific melodies, attracting both locals and visitors with its unique appearance and attractiveness. Saturday mornings in Varaždin, from May to September, are particularly lively, when most of these events take place, allowing musical Varaždin to breathe fully.

Varaždin is the first city in Croatia to proudly hold the title of a UNESCO City of Music. This remarkable achievement symbolizes the culmination of years of efforts and dedication by the City of Varaždin in promoting musical culture and heritage, while also serving as an inspiration for further development of Varaždin as a center of musical excellence.

Varaždin holds a special place among the historic cities of Central Europe. Although not the oldest or largest, Varaždin is characterized by the unique romantic charm of its well-preserved historical core, filled with magnificent witnesses of its rich nine-century history and its former status as the Croatian capital: playful facades of baroque palaces, tall towers of numerous churches, urban medieval layout, and the stunning fairytale castle in the heart of the city. The Old Castle, a Gothic-Renaissance fortress located in the historical core, is Varaždin’s most famous landmark.

Mission of the City of Varaždin as a UNESCO City of Music

1. Preservation and promotion of rich musical heritage: The City of Varaždin is committed to preserving and promoting its rich musical heritage, including traditional musical forms such as folklore, as well as other cultural events associated with the city’s musical history. Through activities and programs, the city will nurture the legacy of its musical tradition and encourage its transmission to future generations.
2. Encouragement of music sector development: Active support will be provided for the development of the music sector through investments in education, entrepreneurship, and culture. This includes supporting music education programs, encouraging entrepreneurial initiatives in the music sector, and improving infrastructure that supports music activities and events.
3. Creation of an inclusive musical environment: The city will use music as a means of inclusion and integration of different social groups. Through the organization of educational programs, workshops, and cultural events, Varaždin will encourage the participation of all citizens in musical activities and create an inclusive environment.
4. Diversification and innovation in the music scene: The city will promote diversification and innovation in the music scene by supporting new genres, experimental projects, and technological innovations, as well as improving the infrastructure needed for their implementation. This will contribute to the development of a rich and dynamic music ecosystem and encourage creativity among music artists and professionals.
5. Development of sustainable tourism and culture: The City of Varaždin will strive to develop sustainable tourism and culture through the organization of cultural events, festivals, and the promotion of the city’s rich cultural heritage, with a special emphasis on music.
6. International cooperation and recognition: The city will actively participate in international cooperation in the field of music with the aim of recognizing and promoting the status of UNESCO City of Music. Through participation in projects, exchange of experiences, and collaboration with other cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Varaždin will strengthen its reputation as an important center of musical creativity and innovation.