Every year on September 8, we come together to celebrate the founding of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). This day serves as an opportunity to highlight the wealth of our network and the commitment of our member cities to bring their historic centers to life. In 2026, this celebration takes on a special significance as we approach the 18th World Congress in Marrakech, where the New Urban Project of the OWHC will be approved. We aim to dedicate this day to livability and dialogue with citizens.
“Engaging in dialogue with citizens to continue revitalizing our historic centers” is more than just a phrase; it embodies our mission. Our historic centers are not merely places to be preserved; they are living environments that must be inhabited, shared, and collectively reinvented. Across our network, cities are already launching projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing quality of life, strengthening residential functions, transforming mobility, adapting public spaces, and utilizing heritage as a resource for the future.
This OWHC Day is therefore an opportunity to showcase these actions, but also to listen to citizens and involve them in the transformations of their historic centers. As we look forward to the Marrakech Congress, let us collectively celebrate this dynamic and the ambition that unites us: to build historic centers that are more livable, vibrant, and sustainable.
Happy OWHC Day to Everyone!
If your city has organized activities in honor of this day, please send your posters, programs, photos, videos, or publications to Jules Morel, Project Manager for Communication and Visibility at jmorel@ovpm.org.
As reported by ovpm.org.
