18^th World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, Marrakech, Morocco, October 26-29, 2026

“The OWHC’s New Urban Project for Historic Centers”

The World Congresses of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC), held every two years, are major events for exchanges, work, and decisions that bring together all members.

The 18^th Congress in Marrakech will feature two main events:

• The Symposium, during which the OWHC’s New Urban Project for Historic Centers will be presented. This program is the result of several years of intense work by member cities. It is an original and specific contribution by the OWHC.
• The 29^th General Assembly of OWHC members, during which member cities will decide on the Action Plan and budget for the coming years.

Since 2022, the OWHC has been undergoing a major evolution aimed at strengthening its political and operational dimensions. With its New Urban Project, the OWHC wishes to become a platform for promoting a vision of the 21st-century city, where the historic center is the cultural, social, and economic heart capable of responding to contemporary challenges, with a focus on habitability. The Congress in Marrakech will be the starting point for a new phase of cooperation between member cities and partnerships with international actors committed to the preservation and development of World Heritage cities.