UNESCO World Heritage List 2026: Sarnath gets global recognition, UNESCO includes 25 new sites in the World Heritage List.

New Delhi. UNESCO has expanded its World Heritage List to include 25 new sites. The list also includes the ancient Buddhist site Sarnath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Alamut Mahal and related fort in Iran and Aqaba Marine Protected Area in Jordan.

The decision to include these sites in the World Heritage List was taken in the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held from 19 to 29 July in Busan, South Korea. Sarnath was officially included in this prestigious list on July 25.

This session was also historic for three African countries

According to a UNESCO statement, this time's session was historic for Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe and South Sudan. For the first time, any site from these three countries has got a place in the World Heritage List. The organization described this as an important step towards making the World Heritage List more balanced and representative.

Six sites also included in the endangered world heritage list

The World Heritage Committee also included six sites in the list of World Heritage in Danger. According to UNESCO, this decision has been taken in view of the exceptional importance of these sites and the need for their conservation.

These new sites also got world heritage status

Other major destinations included in the list this year Japan's ancient capitals Asuka and Fujiwara, Uzbekistan's Tashkent Modernist Architecture, Sao Tome and Principe's 'Rocas', and a large portion of Greece's Mount Olympus.

Now 1,273 sites from 173 countries included in the list

UNESCO said in its statement issued on July 28 that after 25 new entries, the total number of sites included in the World Heritage List has now reached 1,273, which are located in 173 countries.

These new sites will now get the highest recognition at the international level as well as the benefit of global cooperation for conservation.

19 cultural, 5 natural and 1 mixed sites got place

The 25 new sites included in the list by mutual consent by the committee include 19 cultural, 5 natural and 1 mixed sites. Additionally, expansion of the scope of two previously listed sites was also approved, including South Korea's Gatebol (Korean Tidal Plain-Phase 2).

Vienna's historic center out of danger list

The World Heritage Committee also decided to remove the historic center of Vienna, Austria, from the list of World Heritage in Danger. The next session of the Committee will be held in Istanbul, Turkey in the year 2027.

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