Lucknow Joins UNESCO Creative Cities Network as Gastronomy Hub

Context:

• On 31 October 2025, on the occasion of World Cities Day (WCD), UNESCO designated Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) as a ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

• The announcement was made during the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conferenceheld in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

• This recognition places Lucknow among global gastronomy hubs and strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and heritage branding.

Key Highlights:

• Event / Designation Details:

  • What: Lucknow designated UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

  • When: 31 October 2025 (World Cities Day)

  • Where announced: UNESCO General Conference, Samarkand (Uzbekistan)

  • Category: Gastronomy

  • Significance: Lucknow became the 2nd Indian city after Hyderabad (2019) to receive this title.

• UCCN Expansion in 2025:

  • 58 new cities were added in 2025.

  • Total network now includes 408 cities across 100+ countries.

  • A new creative field Architecture was added for the first time in 2025.

• Newly Added Cities Examples (2025 cohort):

  • Kisumu (Kenya), New Orleans (USA) – Music

  • Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) – Design

  • Matosinhos (Portugal), Cuenca (Ecuador) – Gastronomy

  • Giza (Egypt) – Film

  • Rovaniemi (Finland) – Architecture

  • Malang (Indonesia) – Media Arts

  • Aberystwyth (UK) – Literature

• India’s UCCN Cities (Total 9):

  • Jaipur – Crafts & Folk Arts

  • Varanasi – Music

  • Chennai – Music

  • Hyderabad – Gastronomy

  • Mumbai – Film

  • Srinagar – Crafts & Folk Arts

  • Gwalior – Music

  • Kozhikode – Literature

  • Lucknow – Gastronomy

• Next UCCN Annual Conference:

  • Scheduled in 2026 at Essaouira, Morocco(Creative City of Music since 2019).

• Significance / Applications / Concerns:

  • Promotes tourism and local food industries.

  • Enhances global recognition of India’s culinary heritage.

  • Encourages sustainable food practices and preservation of traditional food culture.

Relevant Prelims Points:

• About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN):

  • Established in 2004.

  • Objective: Promote cooperation among cities using creativity as a strategic tool for sustainable urban development.

• Creative Fields under UCCN:

  • Crafts & Folk Arts

  • Design

  • Film

  • Gastronomy

  • Literature

  • Media Arts

  • Music

  • Architecture (added in 2025)

• About Creative City of Gastronomy:

  • Recognizes cities with strong culinary heritage, local food industries, and gastronomic traditions.

  • Promotes sustainable food systems, culinary education, and traditional markets.

  • Status is reviewed every four years for renewal.

• About Gastronomy:

  • Defined as the art and science of good eating.

  • Reflects cultural identity and regional heritage.

• About Lucknow’s Culinary Heritage:

  • Represents Awadhi Cuisine, rooted in royal kitchens of the Nawabs of Awadh.

  • Famous technique: Dum Pukht (slow cooking in sealed pots).

  • Signature dishes: kebabs, korma, biryani, sheermal, shahi tukda.

  • Major food hubs: Hazratganj, Chowk, Aminabad.

  • Cultural identity reflects Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb(Persian, Muslim, and Indic blend).

• Nomination Process (Lucknow):

  • Submitted by UP Tourism Directorate to Ministry of Culture on 31 January 2025.

  • Government of India selected Lucknow as national entry on 3 March 2025.

• Benefits / Importance:

  • Strengthens India’s cultural branding globally.

  • Supports local economy, food entrepreneurs, and culinary tourism.

  • Encourages preservation of traditional cooking knowledge.

• Challenges / Risks:

  • Risk of commercialization diluting authentic culinary practices.

  • Need to ensure sustainability and local ingredient protection.

  • Requirement to maintain UNESCO standards for renewal.

• Impact (India + Global):

  • Strengthens India’s soft power through heritage diplomacy.

  • Encourages city-level cultural and creative economy development.

Relevant Mains Points:

• Core Concept / Static Linkage:

  • Cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development.

  • Link between urban development, tourism, and creative economy.

  • Promotion of intangible cultural heritage through gastronomy.

• Governance / Institutional Dimensions:

  • Role of UNESCO in cultural preservation.

  • Role of state tourism departments and Ministry of Culture in global nominations.

  • Integration of cultural assets into urban planning.

• Economic / Social Dimensions:

  • Boost to local employment (hospitality, food processing, tourism).

  • Encouragement to MSMEs, street vendors, culinary artisans.

  • Enhances regional identity and community pride.

• Keywords for Answer Writing:

  • Cultural Diplomacy

  • Soft Power

  • Creative Economy

  • Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • Sustainable Tourism

  • Heritage Branding

• Way Forward:

  • Develop sustainable culinary tourism circuits.

  • Protect traditional recipes, markets, and food artisans.

  • Promote culinary education and documentation of heritage cuisines.

  • Encourage eco-friendly food supply chains and local sourcing.

  • Strengthen policy support for street food hygiene and heritage conservation.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):

• GS1: Indian culture, heritage, diversity, urban cultural identity.

• GS2: UNESCO and international cultural cooperation.

• GS3: Tourism economy, sustainable development, creative industries.

• GS4: Cultural preservation ethics and inclusive development.