Five UNESCO Tentative List Sites Worth Visiting Now
The UNESCO World Heritage List, established in 1978, has grown to include over 1,248 sites across 194 countries and 12 territories. Currently, the tentative list boasts 1,875 sites from 181 nations. Upcoming sessions will focus on 22 nominations at the 48th World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan, South Korea, from July 19-29, 2026. Recent additions to the tentative list include the Sligo Passage Tombs in Ireland and Cape York Peninsula in Australia. Notably, the Gcwihaba Caves in Botswana are over two million years old and the Saimaa ringed seal population in Finland is critically low, with fewer than 550 remaining.
Key facts
- UNESCO World Heritage List started in 1978 with 12 sites.
- Currently 194 countries and 12 territories have signed the convention.
- World Heritage List includes over 1,248 locations.
- Tentative list features 1,875 sites from 181 countries and territories.
- 48th session of World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, July 19-29, 2026.
- 22 nominations will be examined at the 2026 session.
- Sligo Passage Tombs in Ireland added to tentative list in 2023.
- Cape York Peninsula in Australia added to tentative list in 2024.
- Fewer than 550 Saimaa ringed seals remain in Lake Saimaa, Finland.
- Real Felipe Fortress of Callao rebuilt in 1770s after 1746 earthquake.
- Gcwihaba Caves in Botswana are over two million years old.
Entities
Institutions
- UNESCO
- International Council on Monuments and Sites
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Macau University of Science and Technology
- Purdue University
- Tilburg University
- Euronews
- Smithsonian magazine
- HarperCollins US
- National Geographic
Locations
- Finland
- Lake Saimaa
- Ecuador
- Galápagos Islands
- United States
- Yellowstone National Park
- Germany
- Aachen Cathedral
- Busan
- South Korea
- Peru
- Machu Picchu
- Slovakia
- Vlkolinec
- Everglades National Park
- Afghanistan
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- County Sligo
- Sligo
- Dublin
- Knocknarea mountain
- Keshcorran
- Carrowkeel
- Australia
- Cape York Peninsula
- Queensland
- Quinkan Country
- Murujuga
- Western Australia
- Cairns
- Bamaga
- Savonlinna
- Helsinki
- Real Felipe Fortress of Callao
- Callao
- Lima
- Botswana
- Kalahari Desert
- Namibian border
- Aha Hills
- Gcwihaba Caves
- Gaborone
- Central America
- South America
- Baltic Sea