OVPM OWHC OCPM

🌍 Marrakech 2026 is coming.

From October 26 to 29, the 18th World Congress of the OWHC will bring together member cities for a pivotal moment in our collective journey. Centered on the theme “The New Urban Project: Toward Habitability of Historic Centers,” this congress marks a decisive step forward.

Since Quebec City in 2022, where we acknowledged the urgency of the crises affecting our historic centers, and Córdoba in 2024, where we affirmed habitability as a shared response, our network has been building a common vision. In Marrakech, we move from reflection to action.

This congress will introduce the OWHC’s New Urban Project, a structured and evolving framework designed to support cities in addressing the real challenges of habitability. Developed through an unprecedented collaborative effort involving more than half of our members, it represents a collective ambition to rethink how we act within historic urban spaces.

Marrakech 2026 will also be a key moment for the life of our organization, as member cities come together to shape the next Action Plan and define priorities for the years ahead.

More than ever, this gathering will be an opportunity to share perspectives, strengthen cooperation, and collectively shape the future of our historic centers.

We look forward to welcoming you in Marrakech.

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐎𝐖𝐇𝐂 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

Every September 8, we celebrate together the founding of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). More than just an anniversary, it is an invitation to recognize the richness of our network and the ongoing commitment of each of our member cities. Their energy, ideas, and daily actions bring our common mission to life: to preserve and enhance heritage while improving the quality of life for residents of historic centers.

This day also reminds us that we are united by the conviction that heritage is an essential resource for building and imagining new ways of creating cities. Our cities share similar challenges, but above all, they share the same desire to find common solutions to today's major social and environmental issues.

Today, we are at a turning point. With the New Urban Project to be adopted at the World Congress in Marrakech in 2026, the OWHC is close to achieving the goal it set itself in 2022. This major objective is above all the result of collaboration between our members: it draws on their experiences, statements, and creativity to propose a common strategy for making our heritage cities habitable, sustainable, and resilient.

On this OWHC Day, let us celebrate the strength of our network and the role of each city in writing this new page in our collective history. Thank you to all our member cities for their commitment and trust. Together, let us continue to build this renewed and forward-looking OWHC.

Happy OWHC Day to all!