Gabrovo Hosts the 2026 Crafts and Folk Art Cluster Annual Meeting

Date: September 16 to 20 2026

In September 2026, Gabrovo hosted the Annual Meeting of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network’s Crafts and Folk Art Cluster under the theme “Crafting Human Creativity for a Peaceful World”. The gathering brought together representatives of Creative Cities for international dialogue, professional exchange and the development of new partnerships.

A special panel was dedicated to the concept of the “Third Space”: a meeting place where bearers of traditional crafts and folklore connect with practitioners and new generations who carry this heritage forward. These spaces offer opportunities for demonstrations, reenactments and the sharing of traditional knowledge and skills with diverse audiences.

This work is guided by the scientific and organisational expertise of museums, whose role since 2022 has increasingly encompassed not only the preservation and presentation of tangible cultural heritage, but also the safeguarding and promotion of intangible cultural heritage.

Hosting this international forum reaffirmed Gabrovo’s commitment to strengthening the Cluster and to promoting crafts and folk art as drivers of sustainable, inclusive and peaceful communities.

External links: https://creativecity.gabrovo.bg/en/home/