Şanlıurfa Takes The Global Cultural Stage With Unesco “city Of Music” Status
Şanlıurfa Takes the Global Cultural Stage with UNESCO “City of Music” Status
Şanlıurfa, Türkiye — With a history spanning nearly 12,000 years and home to some of the earliest traces of human civilization, Şanlıurfa has taken a major step to elevate its cultural heritage by joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the title of “City of Music.” İn 2023. The launch ceremony, held on 23 October 2024 at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, aimed to showcase the city’s rich musical traditions to the international community.
Şanlıurfa, Türkiye — With a history spanning nearly 12,000 years and home to some of the earliest traces of human civilization, Şanlıurfa has taken a major step to elevate its cultural heritage by joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the title of “City of Music.” İn 2023. The launch ceremony, held on 23 October 2024 at the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, aimed to showcase the city’s rich musical traditions to the international community.
The event opened with a special exhibition titled From Past to Present: Music in Şanlıurfa, offering visitors a visual and auditory journey through the region’s vast musical memory and the melodies that have shaped Anatolia across centuries. Among the distinguished guests were Şanlıurfa Governor Hasan Şıldak, Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar, Ankara Mayor and President of the Union of Historical Towns Mansur Yavaş, representatives from the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO, and numerous diplomats and international envoys.
However, a tragic development cast a shadow over the celebration. Due to a terrorist attack targeting the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) facility in Ankara, all planned concerts and musical performances were cancelled. Participants observed a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives and delivered messages of unity and solidarity. The program continued in a simplified format, focusing on the exhibition and official speeches.
Şanlıurfa’s inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network is the result of an extended preparatory process. Initial application efforts, initiated under previous municipal leadership, were finalized and internationally accredited by the current administration. This achievement not only enhances the city’s cultural diplomacy capacity but also lays the groundwork for new collaborations in tourism, creative industries, and gastronomy.
In his remarks, Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar emphasized that Şanlıurfa has rightfully earned this international recognition as a “cradle of civilizations,” and stated that, with UNESCO’s support, the city aims to bring its unique voice to the global cultural stage. He also announced that Şanlıurfa will host the UNESCO Annual Meeting of Cities of Music in 2026. The event is expected to gather representatives from nearly 80 countries, underscoring that the city’s ambition goes beyond symbolic recognition to building a sustainable cultural vision.
With its historic landmarks, vibrant folk music traditions, and ancient melodies, Şanlıurfa now seeks to connect its local artists with global audiences and to strengthen cultural tourism. Joining the UNESCO Creative.
