Lucknow named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
UNESCO named Lucknow a Creative City of Gastronomy on 31 October 2025, making it India's second city with the title after Hyderabad.
Summary
Lucknow was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy on 31 October 2025, World Cities Day, during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The title recognises the city's centuries-old Awadhi cuisine and food traditions, and makes Lucknow India's second Creative City of Gastronomy after Hyderabad. UNESCO designated 58 new Creative Cities this year, bringing the network to 408 cities in more than 100 countries, and added Architecture as a new creative field alongside the seven existing ones. Uttar Pradesh's tourism directorate sent the nomination to the Ministry of Culture on 31 January 2025, and India chose it as its official entry on 3 March 2025.
Key facts
- Date/place
- 31 Oct 2025, 43rd UNESCO General Conference, Samarkand
- Field
- Gastronomy (Awadhi cuisine)
- Indian gastronomy cities
- Hyderabad, then Lucknow
- New members in 2025
- 58; network now 408 cities
- New creative field
- Architecture
- India's official entry
- Selected 3 Mar 2025
Practice MCQs 3 questions
In October 2025, Lucknow joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in which creative field?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Gastronomy
UNESCO named Lucknow a Creative City of Gastronomy, recognising its Awadhi culinary heritage.
Lucknow became India's second UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Which was the first?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Hyderabad
Indian Express and India Today report Lucknow is the second Indian city with the gastronomy title, after Hyderabad.
Lucknow's designation as a UNESCO Creative City was announced during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in:
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Samarkand
The designation came during the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.