Launched in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network brings together locations around the world that use creativity as a key factor for sustainable development in the economic, social, cultural and environmental fields. Brazil is part of the network with 14 cities .
The locations added to the network are committed to sharing best practices and developing partnerships that promote creativity and cultural industries, all of this also with an eye on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In total, there are seven creative fields that cities can be categorized into: Crafts and Popular Art, Design, Cinema, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music .
Every year, a conference brings together the cities on the list and chooses new names for the network. This year, Braga, in Portugal, hosted the event, which in 2025 will be held in Querétaro, Mexico. Below, discover all 14 Brazilian cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network:
Penedo (AL) – Creative City of Cinema
Added to the list in 2023, Penedo, on the banks of the São Francisco River, has a center listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) and is described by UNESCO as having “cinematic architecture by nature”.
The city has baroque churches along the river and hosts important festivals, such as the Penedo Cinema Circuit which takes place this year between November 25th and December 1st. UNESCO still praises the complex Cinema Penedo restored last year and described as a “cinematic gem”.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) – Creative City of Literature
Present on the list since 2023, Rio is, in UNESCO’s view, a city that uses literature as a tool to address inequalities and improve quality of life. This includes young people in socially complex areas, where “libraries are gateways to cultural citizenship”.
It is also linked to the economy: the metropolitan region of Rio represents 14% of national book sales, totaling 7.95 million units and generating revenue of US$66.2 million in 2022, according to UNESCO. Of the 214 bookstores in the state, 146 are in the city, which is also home to 125 publishers associated with the National Union of Book Editors (SNEL).
Some literary itineraries around the Marvelous City make the title clearer, as you can see in this article.
Campina Grande (PB) – Creative City of Media Arts
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A pioneer in the creation of a technology park and a media arts course, Campina Grande has as one of its main attractions the SESI Digital Museum which uses interactive and audiovisual resources to show the history of the city’s development.
According to UNESCO, the city has ongoing projects that include a Media Arts Festival, an innovation laboratory and mapping of the creative economy. It is worth highlighting that Campina Grande is already included in the national calendar for its São João, held in June and which combines music, theater, crafts and gastronomy.
Recife (PE) – Creative City of Music
Music plays a fundamental role in Recife life, reflected in expressions such as frevo and maracatu, as well as manguebeat. The first, in fact, is intangible cultural heritage recognized by Iphan.
The rhythms also materialize in the street Carnival, one of the most famous in Brazil, which includes Galo da Madrugada, considered the largest in the world. Year after year, Recife is also one of the most popular cities in the country for summer holidays.
Belo Horizonte (MG) – Creative City of Gastronomy
The rich history of the capital of Minas Gerais is also linked to its food culture, exalted in 2019 with the title of Creative City of Gastronomy. According to UNESCO, the services and gastronomy sector represents more than 80% of the city’s GDP.
The organization also highlights the city’s gastronomic events, which has a “talented sector supported by initiatives and policies with the aim of preserving traditional cuisine, while also seeking evolution and innovation within the industry”. Initiatives such as the Fartura Festival, Viradão Gastronomico and the BH Gastronomy Biennial are some of the examples that heat up the sector.
Fortaleza (CE) – Creative City of Design
In addition to the beautiful beaches, the capital of Ceará has a creative economy that helps with the economic and social development of the region. According to UNESCO, the design sector is part of this package and generated US$135 million for the city when it was added to the network in 2019.
The city is still among the most sought after by Brazilian tourists for holidays and vacations throughout the year.
Brasília (DF) – Creative City of Design
Planned by the modernist traits of Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio Costa the capital of Brazil has a significant creative economy in the areas of design, fashion and crafts. The city hosts events focused on design and has recently also stood out in the gastronomic scene.
Niemeyer’s lines stand out and the constructions serve several purposes beyond political ones. There are unmissable architectural tours, churches that are true works of art and hotels that are design jewels. Check out a complete guide to Brasilia.
João Pessoa (PB) – Creative City of Crafts and Popular Art
Much sought after for its beaches, the capital of Paraíba is the main regional commercial center for the production of craftsmanship which includes ceramics, embroidery and crochet. One of the essential visits in the city is the Paraibano Handicraft Market (MAP), with hundreds of shops dedicated to handicrafts.
The city regularly hosts the Paraibano Crafts Show and also has the Paraibano Crafts Program (PAP), which promotes the development of crafts and their recognition on a national and international level.
Paraty (RJ) – Creative City of Gastronomy
Full of history and natural wonders, Paraty went through several economic cycles and incorporated indigenous, Portuguese and African cultures into its cuisine. Today, restaurants and cooks do an excellent job of putting caiçara cuisine on the table, with fresh fish and seafood and the combination of ingredients from the Atlantic Forest.
It is also impossible to talk about Paraty without mentioning its cachaça, recently recognized with the Denomination of Origin seal. All of this can be experienced on a three-day itinerary in the city.
Belém (PA) – Creative City of Gastronomy
The capital of Pará concentrates a diversity of local ingredients that shine on the city’s streets and tables. Gastronomy plays a fundamental role in the functioning and understanding of the city, based on ingredients from the Amazon Rainforest. Indigenous culture mixes with clear influences from Portuguese settlers and Africa.
Açaí, tucupi, tacacá, maniçoba, pirarucu, jambu, shrimp, herbs and peppers are some of the raw materials. This is reflected in the Market-See-The-Peso which brings together a taste of the cuisine and culture of Pará, as well as the most varied restaurants in the city. Check out a gastronomic itinerary.
Santos (SP) – Creative City of Cinema
On the coast of São Paulo, Santos was the first Creative City of Cinema in Latin America . The film industry has played a role in the city since the 20th century, with the creation of one of the first film clubs in the country.
Created in 2005 by the city hall, the Santos Film Commission is a facilitator and provides technical and logistical support to the local film industry. The city also hosts Curta Santos, a festival with free film screenings. On the waterfront, there is also Cine Arte Posto 4, a space reserved for film productions from various countries with tickets starting at R$1.50.
Salvador (BA) – Creative City of Music
The capital of Bahia is surrounded by religious syncretism and a multiculturalism celebrated around the world. This is all accompanied by different musical rhythms, including tropicalismo, axé, bossa nova and samba. In Pelourinho, Olodum drums make the musical spirit more alive in regular performances.
Salvador’s Carnival boosts the city’s musical creativity while welcoming millions of people onto the streets – the city was even the birthplace of the electric trio. Check out a complete guide to Salvador.
Florianópolis (SC) – Creative City of Gastronomy
Considered the oyster capital in Brazil Florianópolis is also committed to formulating strategies for the development of the local creative economy, which includes gastronomy. Check out where to eat in Florianópolis.
In fact, the capital of Santa Catarina draws attention for its mollusk production: while Santa Catarina is the state that produces the most oysters, Florianópolis is the city that takes the lead, with 1,351 tons in 2021, according to the Center for Development in Aquaculture and Fisheries ( CEDAP), linked to the Agricultural Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina (Epagri).
Curitiba (PR) – Creative City of Design
A member of the list since 2014, Curitiba is highlighted by UNESCO as a city that recognizes design as an agent of urban transformation. “Curitiba is a culturally rich city that brings together a large number of places, events and artists in areas such as music, gastronomy, theater and design”, says the page.
Known as one of the cities with the best quality of life in Brazil, it even entered the list of 30 places around the world to visit in 2025 according to Lonely Planet. The publication highlights the Oscar Niemeyer Museum, the Botanical Garden and Barigui Park.
The post Find out which UNESCO’s 14 creative cities are in Brazil appeared first on CNN Brasil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
