UNESCO has announced MONDIACULT 2025, a landmark global conference that will shape the future of cultural policy and its role in sustainable development.
What is MONDIACULT?
MONDIACULT is UNESCO’s global conference on cultural policies that shapes the international agenda for culture. It advocates for culture as a vital pillar of sustainable development. First launched in 1982 and reactivated in 2022, the conference now takes place every four years.
The 2025 edition will run in Barcelona, Spain, from 29 September to 1 October. It will focus on cultural trends, rights, and the impact of digital technology and climate change. A central aim is to secure culture as a stand-alone goal in future UN development agendas.
Key Themes of MONDIACULT 2025
As the world’s largest cultural policy conference, MONDIACULT 2025 will gather thousands of participants to debate and shape the global cultural agenda for the years ahead. Discussions will cover six themes and two focus areas, tackling the most pressing cultural challenges and opportunities for future.
Beyond dialogue, the event also serves as a powerful advocacy platform. Moreover, with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda nearing its conclusion, this edition comes at a pivotal moment to build consensus around recognizing culture as a stand-alone goal in the next United Nations framework.
In addition, MONDIACULT 2025 will guide countries to design effective policies and support vibrant creative sectors.
The conference will showcase UNESCO’s achievements in positioning culture as a driver of development while tackling urgent issues such as:
- Promoting culture in crisis response and recovery.
- Amplifying Indigenous Peoples’ voices in cultural policy.
- Guiding the cultural sector’s digital transformation in the AI era.
- Fighting illicit trafficking of cultural property, with the launch of UNESCO’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects.
Finally, Ministers of Culture will close the event by adopting an outcome document that sets cultural policy priorities for the years ahead.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
MONDIACULT 2025 is set to shape cultural policy by strengthening multilateralism and embedding culture into the post-2030 agenda. Therefore, It will drive impact in three main areas:
1.Integration of culture into the global development agenda
MONDIACULT 2025 will issue a global call to recognize culture as a stand-alone goal in the next UN development strategy beyond 2030. Building on the 2022 recognition of culture as a “global public good,” it will reaffirm culture’s role as a pillar of inclusive and sustainable development. Furthermore, UNESCO will publish its first Global Report on Cultural Policies, offering fresh data and insights to guide policymakers worldwide.
2.Advancements in thematic cultural policies
The conference will strengthen legal and policy frameworks to safeguard cultural rights and equitable access to heritage. Delegates will shape ethical guidelines for AI and digital tools to protect cultural diversity and artists’ rights. The event will also highlight Indigenous knowledge in climate strategies, expand efforts to protect heritage in crises, and intensify action against illicit trafficking. It will further promote culture as an engine for jobs and innovation while deepening links between culture and education through arts education, digital literacy, and heritage integration.
3.Strengthening multilateral action
MONDIACULT 2025 will renew global cooperation and promote multilateralism to tackle cultural challenges in an era of crises. The conference will unite member states and stakeholders to build consensus and drive collective action. Meanwhile, organizers will center discussions on inclusive, participatory dialogues to ensure diverse voices contribute. Through initiatives like the youth-focused “MondiaYouth” forum and other side events, youth, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and the creative sector will directly shape outcomes.
Why It Matters
MONDIACULT 2025 offers a unique opportunity for the global community to chart a bold course for the future of culture and sustainable development. With culture now recognized as a driver of resilience, identity, and innovation, the conference aims to inspire new initiatives, strengthen cooperation, and highlight culture’s essential role in shaping a more just and equitable world.
In today’s rapidly changing world, MONDIACULT 2025 is more than a conference; it is a chance to redefine culture as a cornerstone of a just, inclusive, and sustainable future— and to secure its rightful place at the heart of global policy.
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