The Finnish Heritage Agency has opened a call for applications to UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Finnish Heritage Agency particularly encourages applications to the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices. The Register includes programmes, projects and activities that have proven to be effective ways of safeguarding, strengthening and transmitting living heritage to future generations.

It is also possible to express interest in applying to other lists under UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Elements nominated for these lists must already be included in the National Inventory of Living Heritage. At present, Finland’s National Inventory includes 86 elements.

The Finnish Heritage Agency will receive proposals until 4 September 2026. With the support of the Advisory group on intangible cultural heritage, the Finnish Heritage Agency will submit 1–2 proposals to the Ministry of Education and Culture. The nominated elements must reflect Finland’s national priorities in intangible cultural heritage and have the best potential for inscription on UNESCO’s lists.

At the core of the proposals must be the willingness of the communities maintaining the intangible heritage to commit themselves to acting in accordance with UNESCO’s objectives. Preparing a nomination is a long-term and open process, coordinated by and involving a wide range of actors connected to the living heritage element. Inscription on a UNESCO list commits both the community responsible for the element and the State to safeguarding and protecting the inscribed good practice or living heritage element.

A similar call was previously organised in 2018, resulting in the inscription of sauna culture in Finland and Kaustinen fiddle playing on UNESCO’s lists. Finland also participates in multinational elements, namely Nordic clinker boat traditions (2021) and the knowledge, craft and skills of handmade glass (2023). A joint nomination by Sweden and Finland concerning dip-net fishing on the River Tornio is currently under evaluation, and the decision is expected in December 2027.

To support applicants, the Finnish Heritage Agency will organise a seminar on Monday 1 June 2026 in Helsinki. Participation in the morning session is also possible remotely. Registration is open until 25 May 2026. The event is in Finnish.

More information:

Guidelines for Expression of Interest For UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2026
Leena Marsio, Museovirasto, leena.marsio(at)museovirasto.fi, puh. 029533 6017 
Mirva Mattila, opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö, mirva.mattila(at)gov.fi, puh. 0295 33 0269 

UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage
(Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices)