Suwon, Republic of Korea – October 2025 |

The Organizing Committee of the World Intangible Heritage Network (WIN) announced that the IP-WIN 2025 International Showcase and Forum, originally scheduled for November 2025 in Suwon, will be postponed and integrated into the broader WIN 2026–2028 global framework.

According to the Committee, the decision was made to allow more time for comprehensive preparation and international coordination, ensuring that the festival can be held with the level of quality, inclusiveness, and global participation originally envisioned. The revised plan reflects the Committee’s commitment to presenting a mature, well-structured, and internationally representative event that fully aligns with the long-term goals of the WIN Project.

“This additional preparation period will enable us to broaden participation, refine the program, and strengthen partnerships with global heritage institutions,”
said a spokesperson for Culture Masters. “Our goal is to deliver a truly inclusive, world-class festival that embodies the living spirit of heritage.”

A New Beginning: WIN 2026 Global Festival in Suwon

Under the new framework, WIN 2026 will be launched in October 2026 in Suwon, in conjunction with the city’s existing cultural festival. The event will serve as the starting point of a three-year cycle culminating in WIN 2028 – The World Intangible Heritage Grand Festival, envisioned as a major global gathering of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) communities, policymakers, and creative industries.

The WIN Project connects numerous countries around the world and their living heritage communities under the shared vision of “Living Heritage”—heritage that evolves with people and societies.

Strategic Vision and Implementation Plan

The WIN 2026 Global Festival will be co-hosted by Suwon City and Culture Masters, in partnership with the UNESCO ICH NGO Forum, ICCN, and other international organizations. The event will feature a blend of performances, international forums, exhibitions, and digital experiences, transforming Suwon into a hub of global cultural diplomacy and sustainable urban development.

Key Objectives include:

Expanding international participation and collaboration with UNESCO-affiliated bodies.

Hosting performances by leading ICH communities worldwide.

Building sponsorship networks with global corporations and foundations.

Establishing a transparent, multi-stakeholder Organizing Committee (to be launched in early 2026).

Reinforcing Suwon’s identity as a Global Heritage City and center of cultural innovation.

Implementation Timeline (2025–2026)

The preparatory phase will begin in late 2025 with the finalization of the master plan and host city agreement.
In early 2026, the Organizing Committee will be launched and global participant recruitment will commence.
By mid-2026, delegations, sponsorships, and program details will be confirmed, leading to the WIN 2026 Global Festival in Suwon in October.
Following the event, post-festival evaluation and planning for PRE-WIN 2027 and WIN 2028 will take place in late 2026.

Building a Global Network of Heritage and Innovation

Organizers emphasized that future WIN editions will be community-centered and innovation-oriented, combining traditional knowledge with cutting-edge digital tools such as the ichmasters platform, the Living Heritage 60 video series, and multilingual media partnerships.

New participatory programs including “Living Heritage Village,” “ICH Box,” and “Global Master Talk” will allow practitioners and communities to engage directly with audiences worldwide. The initiative will also align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), underscoring the essential role of culture in sustainability and resilience.

Expected Global Impact

The WIN Project is anticipated to deliver far-reaching cultural, economic, and diplomatic benefits. It will strengthen Suwon’s global cultural identity and economic vitality, expand international exchange among living heritage communities, and foster new models of cultural diplomacy and ESG engagement for global partners—positioning Culture Masters as a key facilitator of international cooperation in the heritage field.

Toward WIN 2028: Culture, Community, and the Future

Building upon the foundation of IP-WIN 2025, the upcoming WIN 2026–2028 cycle represents a transformation from a single-event model to a global cooperative platform, where communities, cities, enterprises, and institutions work together to design the future of living heritage.

“WIN 2026 will not be just another festival,” said Ms. Gunjan Joshi, a spokesperson for the Organizing Committee. “It will be a living network of cultures, cities, and creative minds—designing together the world we want to inherit.”

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