UNESCO’s MONDIACULT 2025 to Shape Global Agenda for Culture in Barcelona

From 29 September to 1 October 2025, Barcelona will host the world’s largest gathering on cultural policy, as UNESCO convenes MONDIACULT 2025. The conference, bringing together ministers of culture, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives, aims to establish a global roadmap for cultural policies in a rapidly changing world.

Building on MONDIACULT 2022

The 2025 edition follows the landmark MONDIACULT 2022 conference in Mexico City, where UNESCO’s 194 Member States unanimously recognized culture as a “global public good.” That declaration underscored culture’s role not only as heritage but as a driver of sustainable development, social cohesion, and crisis recovery.

In Barcelona, MONDIACULT will take stock of progress since 2022, address new challenges, and adopt an outcome document that sets global priorities for the next decade of cultural policymaking.

A Global Gathering for Culture

Over 100 ministers of culture and more than 1,200 participants from governments, NGOs, international organizations, and the cultural sector will attend. The conference will open on 29 September with speeches by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

UNESCO emphasizes that the meeting is not limited to governments — it is also an opportunity for artists, creators, and communities, including Indigenous Peoples, to have a voice in shaping global cultural policy.

Key Themes and Innovations

The conference will explore the most pressing issues facing culture today:

• Cultural policies as drivers of sustainable development and post-crisis recovery.

• Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge and rights, ensuring their role in global cultural governance.

• Digital transformation of culture, with special focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative sectors.

• The fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property, with the launch of the UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, an online platform showcasing stolen cultural treasures to aid restitution efforts.

• Gender equality in policymaking, supported by the launch of a new toolkit Art for All.

Launch of the First Global Report on Cultural Policies

One of the most anticipated moments is the release of UNESCO’s first Global Report on Cultural Policies, offering unprecedented data and analysis on the cultural sector’s contributions to economic, social, and human development. The report is expected to become a reference for governments and cultural institutions worldwide.

Key Moments on the Agenda

29 September

• Opening ceremony with Audrey Azoulay and Pedro Sánchez.

• Press conference.

• Launch of the Global Report on Cultural Policies.

• Launch of the Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects.

30 September

• Side event: Architecture for People and Planet, promoting inclusive and sustainable design.

• Launch of Art for All: A Toolkit for Gender Equality in Policymaking.

• Publication on Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge in UNESCO-designated sites.

• Evening concert with renowned Spanish conductor and musician Jordi Savall.

1 October

• Side event: Return and Restitution of Cultural Property: Advancing Cultural Rights in Africa.

• Press conference.

• Presentation of the MONDIACULT 2025 Outcome Document, the result of months of consultation with Member States and stakeholders.

• Reading of the Youth Forum conclusions, highlighting young people’s perspectives on culture and sustainability.

A Global “Mutirão” for Culture

Like COP30 in Belém, which Brazil has framed as a “global mutirão” for sustainability, MONDIACULT 2025 is conceived as a collective global effort. Since 2000, UNESCO has helped over 150 countries develop or improve cultural policies, and this conference will strengthen that support through knowledge-sharing and international cooperation.

Why MONDIACULT Matters

The gathering comes at a pivotal time. The cultural sector is still recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating digital disruptions, and facing threats from armed conflict and illicit trade in cultural goods. At the same time, culture is increasingly recognized as an essential pillar of sustainable development, from climate resilience to peacebuilding.

By placing culture at the center of international debates, UNESCO hopes to ensure it is fully integrated into global agendas — alongside health, climate, and the economy — as a fundamental driver of human development.

Looking Ahead

The adoption of the MONDIACULT 2025 outcome document will mark a decisive step in shaping global cultural governance for the years ahead. For UNESCO, the conference is both a milestone and a launchpad: a chance to reaffirm culture’s universal value while setting a framework for action at national and international levels.