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UNESCO Creative Cities in the Philippines

Kara Santos

Originally published March 2024, updated November 2025

The Philippines now has five cities that are part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Dumaguete City has been designated Creative City of Literature, while Quezon City was named Creative City of Film, following its application to the UNESCO Creative City of Film Network in 2023.

Previously, Iloilo was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2023, while Cebu was given the title of Creative City of Design in 2019. Baguio City was the first Philippine city to join the UCCN network, having been named a Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2017.

But what exactly does it mean to be a UNESCO Creative City and what activities can travelers do when visiting these places in relation to this distinction?

READ MORE: UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines

What makes a UNESCO Creative City?

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) highlights modern cities that have recognized culture and creativity in different fields. The program was created in 2004 “to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.”

As of 2025, there are eight creative fields that cities can be recognized for in the fields of Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, Music and Architecture.

According to UNESCO, almost 408 cities around the world currently make up the Creative Cities network. They are joined together towards a common objective of “placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level.”

What’s the significance of the designation?

Being named a UNESCO Creative City is significant as it recognizes a city’s commitment to fostering creativity and preserving culture. Being part of the network can enhance a city’s international visibility and attract attention from global travelers, media, and potential investors. It can also help provide a platform for the city to highlight its creativity, and innovation in the chosen field.

Much like awards, the global recognition can help boost the local economy, in terms of tourism in the post-pandemic era. Being named a Creative City can attract cultural tourists interested in experiencing the city’s creative offerings, festivals, and events.

Dumaguete: Creative City of Literature

UNESCO Cities of Literature are awarded the title based on their dedication to pursuing excellence in literature locally, and work together to promote new national and international literary links. Dumaguete joins the ranks of the world’s most creative destinations along with Indonesian capital Jakarta, which was recognized in 2021, Lund in Sweden, San Luis Potosi in Mexico and Tangier in Morocco.

Dumaguete, a university town in the Visayas region, has long been a literary hub. It’s home to Silliman University (est. 1901), the oldest American-founded university in the Philippines. The distinction celebrates the city’s long literary legacy, from the Silliman Writers Workshop to generations of authors, poets, and storytellers hailing from the city.

Top literary events and spots for creatives to visit in Dumaguete:

Quezon City: Creative City of Film

Designated UNESCO Cities of Film share similar characteristics, including important infrastructure related to cinema, e.g. film studios and film landscapes/environments. They should have experience hosting film festivals, screenings and other film-related events. Some other cities that have this distinction include Sydney in Australia, Busan (which hosts the annual International Film Festival) and Mumbai (home to Hindi cinema).

Quezon City, also known as the “City of Stars” is a central hub for filmmaking in the Philippines. During the film industry’s golden era in the 1950s and 1960s, QC was the cradle for major studios like Sampaguita Pictures and LVN Pictures, producing nearly 300 films annually. The city regularly holds film festivals.

Top events and spots for cinephiles to visit in Quezon City:

Baguio: Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art

Baguio City made history as the first Philippine city as one of the 64 cities worldwide to be named under the Creative Cities Network in 2017. Baguio City is recognized as a Creative City in the field of Crafts and Folk Arts along with other cities like Chang Mai in Thailand, Cairo in Egypt, Tunis in Tunisia, Madaba in Jordan, and Carrara in Italy, to name a few.

Baguio is known for its vibrant crafts and folk art scene. Despite being highly urbanized, the city has managed to retain its artistic charm. Baguio City is home to impressive art installations, modern art museums, and creative hubs that support local artists. Local cafes, museums, and creative hubs, other venues showcase the city’s traditional crafts such as weaving, wood carving, cultural performance, silver crafts, and literature.

Top spots to visit to appreciate local crafts and folk art in Baguio:

Cebu: Creative City of Design

Cebu City, the “Queen City of the South” was hailed as Creative City of Design in 201. Cebu shares this distinction with other top cities known for their unique design style and architecture like Hanoi in Vietnam, Nagoya in Japan, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Berlin in Germany.

Centrally located in the heart of the country, Cebu has long been a hub of trade, culture, and innovation. Cebu is traditionally known for its local furniture, arts and crafts, and fashion design. The thriving design scene has managed to keep pace with the rapid development of the city and modern designers from Cebu continue to make their mark in the global design sphere. In modern
times, Cebu is generally considered to be the country’s design capital.

Source: UNESCO Creative Cities

Top spots to visit to appreciate design in Cebu:

Iloilo: Creative City of Gastronomy

In 2023, Iloilo became the first city in the Philippines to be named a Creative City of Gastronomy. Iloilo joined 54 other cities in the worldwide recognition during the observance of World Cities Day on October 31. Other Creative Cities of Gastronomy are Phuket in Thailand, Macao in China, and Thessaloniki in Greece.

Along with celebrations of the world-class Dinagyang Festival and Paraw Regatta, Iloilo’s unique gastronomic delights are a good reason to revisit the city any time of the year. Iloilo is well-known for its mouthwatering cuisine and delicacies influenced by diverse cultures.

Must-try dishes and top cafes to visit in Iloilo:

Learn more about the Creative Cities network in the video below.

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