Lucknow Named UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy

On 30th October 2025, Lucknow was officially added to the list of UNESCO Creative Cities for its rich and diverse culinary heritage, earning global recognition in the Gastronomy category at the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

With this recognition, Lucknow joins the ranks of 70 gastronomy cities worldwide and becomes the second Indian city, after Hyderabad, to receive the prestigious title in the field of culinary arts.
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) now comprises 408 cities across more than 100 countries, representing excellence across various creative fields such as gastronomy, music, literature, film, crafts, and design.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the addition of 58 new cities to the network, each recognized for fostering creativity as a strategic factor in sustainable urban development.
The recognition celebrates Lucknow’s centuries-old Awadhi cuisine, renowned for its royal culinary traditions, distinctive flavours, and fine cooking techniques such as dum pukht, which have shaped India’s gastronomic identity.