The World Heritage Young Professionals Forum 2026, held in Seoul and Busan, Republic of Korea, in July 2026 alongside the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee, brought together 31 young professionals from 29 countries under the theme “World Heritage, Communities and Education: Empowering Youth as Agents of Change”.

The Forum culminated in the presentation of a  declaration collectively developed by the young professionals, which calls upon all 196 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, institutions and communities to establish meaningful and accountable mechanisms for youth engagement, promote participatory governance with local communities and Indigenous Peoples, invest in heritage education and capacity-building, and provide sustainable support for youth-led initiatives. It also reaffirms the commitment of young professionals to advancing innovation, intergenerational cooperation, the ethical use of digital technologies, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Throughout the Forum, the interconnection between heritage and education was particularly strong. “Inclusive, equitable and quality education is a catalyst for heritage preservation and sustainable development: education empowers young people to become active custodians of our shared heritage. In return, heritage is a powerful tool to promote peace and mutual understanding”, said Olga Dević, representing the SDG4 Youth & Student Network as Co-Chair of the SDG 4 Target 4.7 Working Group.

As youth state in their declaration, amid the conflicts and crises of our time, heritage protection, transmission and teaching are instrumental in realising the goal inscribed in UNESCO’s Constitution of ‘building peace in the minds of men and women’.

Conscious of the complexity of the global crisis, notably armed conflict, disasters and climate change, youth also called for the further integration of disaster risk management plans into World Heritage sites.

The Forum provided an international platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration, reinforcing the essential role of young people in safeguarding World Heritage and advancing sustainable development.

It was an opportunity for young people to explore innovative approaches to community participation, youth engagement, digital technologies and heritage management.

“Reflecting on the experience, the Forum demonstrated the transformative power of bringing together young professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds to exchange knowledge, build partnerships and co-create solutions for global challenges affecting World Heritage”, Olga said. “Empowering youth is not only an investment in the future, but an action that strengthens World Heritage today.”