{{Short description|UNESCO Cities of Music}} {{use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} [[File:Adelaide Festival Centre at Night.jpg|thumb|[[Adelaide Festival Centre]] in [[South Australia]]]]
'''City of Music''' is a designation given by [[UNESCO]] to a number of cities around the world "that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development", to promote cooperation among them and to help establish further music-related activities in the cities.<ref >{{cite web | title= The Cities of Music| website=UNESCO Cities of Music | url=https://citiesofmusic.net/ | access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> The network is a sub-network of the wider [[UNESCO Creative Cities Network]], or UCCN. The UCCN launched in 2004, and has member cities in seven creative fields. The other fields are: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, and Media Arts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/news/64-cities-join-unesco-creative-cities-network|title=Cities Join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network}}</ref>
==Cities of Music values== [[File:Gent Graslei zonsondergang.JPG|thumb|[[Korenlei]] and [[Graslei]] in [[Ghent]], Belgium]]
The purpose of the UNESCO Creative City Network is to use creativity to drive the sustainable development of cities.
==About the cities== [[File:Monumental Plaza de España de Sevilla.jpg|thumb|[[Plaza de España, Seville|Plaza de España]] in [[Seville]], Spain]]
In March 2006, [[Seville]] was designated as the first City of Music. [[Bologna]] was named approximately two months later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.listentotheworld.net/human-aesthetics/unescos-cities-of-music|title=UNESCO's Cities of Music|date=22 September 2014|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620010148/http://www.listentotheworld.net/human-aesthetics/unescos-cities-of-music/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Seville has a "legendary [[Flamenco]] scene," and [[UNESCO]] lists Flamenco as an "[[intangible cultural heritage]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20121105-sevilles-legendary-flamenco-scene|title=Seville's Legendary Flamenco Scene}}</ref>
[[Hamamatsu]] is the founding city of [[musical instrument]] companies [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]], [[Kawai Musical Instruments|Kawai]], and [[Roland Corporation|Roland]]. It has also a Museum of Musical Instruments.<ref name="Hamamatsu">{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/hamamatsu|title=Hamamatsu}}</ref>
[[Liverpool]]—"the city that spawned [[The Beatles]]"—earned its designation due to music's "place in the heart of the city's life." UNESCO also noted a "clearly defined" [[music]], [[education]], and [[skill]]s strategy for young people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-35074825|title=Liverpool receives 'City of Music' honour from UNESCO|work=BBC News|date=12 December 2015}}</ref>
[[Idanha-a-Nova]] "lives by the rhythm of music," [[Ghent]] is a "city full of culture," and [[Auckland]] is the "beating heart of [[New Zealand|New Zealand's]] music industry."<ref name="Idanha-a-Nova">{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/idanha-nova|title=Idanha-a-Nova}}</ref><ref name="Ghent">{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/ghent|title=Ghent}}</ref><ref name="Auckland">{{cite web |title=Auckland |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/auckland/}}</ref>
According to [[Lonely Planet]], [[Daegu]] is a "pleasant and progressive place," and [[Leiria]] is an "agreeable mixture of medieval and modern".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/gyeongsangbuk-do/daegu|title=Daegu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/portugal/leiria|title=Leiria}}</ref>
Lonely Planet describes [[Adelaide]] as "sophisticated, cultured, and neat-casual".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/australia/south-australia/adelaide|title=Adelaide}}</ref> In 2024, after the historic pub and popular live music venue [[Crown and Anchor, Adelaide|Crown and Anchor]] was threatened with demolition and then saved after extensive public backlash and protests, the state government introduced laws to protect live music venues in [[Adelaide city centre]]. Part of the justification for this was given as the city's status as a City of Music.<ref>{{cite web | title=Cranker saved from demolition under historic deal and legislation | website=[[InDaily]]|first1=David |last1=Eccles |first2=Helen |last2=Karakulak | date=19 August 2024 | url=https://www.indaily.com.au/news/2024/08/18/cranker-saved-from-demolition-under-historic-deal-and-legislation | access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> [[Gwalior]] is widely regarded as the birthplace of the [[Gwalior gharana|Gwalior Gharana]], the oldest and one of the most influential schools of Hindustani classical music. This gharana laid down the structured form of ''khayal'' singing, which remains central to classical performances across [[India]] today.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UNESCO |first=Gwalior |date=2023 |title=Gwalior |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/gwalior |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=May 12, 2026 |website=UNESCO Creative Cities Network}}</ref> It has India's only music university named as [[Raja Mansingh Tomar Music University|Raja Man Singh Tomar Music University]], dedicated to Indian Classical Music and other art forms along with the oldest music college in India the Madhav Music College<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gwalior |first=District |date=28 May 2026 |title=Madhav Music College |url=https://gwalior.nic.in/en/public-utility/govt-madhav-music-college/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://gwalior.nic.in/en/public-utility/govt-madhav-music-college/ |archive-date=26/05/2026 |access-date=26 May 2026 |website=Madhav Music College}}</ref>, established in 1918. City also has several music colleges and academies solely dedicated to music.
==Cities of Music== <!---found the Adelaide ref dead url, and suspect that all the others may be as well, and need to get archive-urls---> As of 2024, there are 75 Cities of Music. Nine countries have two Cities of Music,{{efn|Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, and Turkey.}} while six countries have three member cities.{{efn|Chile, India, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.}} Colombia is the only country with four Cities of Music.
The Cities of Music are: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! width="150" | City ! width="200" | Country ! width="150" | Year |- |[[Abu Dhabi]] |{{Flag|United Arab Emirates}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Abu Dhabi |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/abu-dhabi/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[Adelaide city centre|Adelaide]] | {{flag|Australia}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/adelaide|title=Adelaide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202161242/https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/adelaide| archive-date=2 December 2023|website=Creative Cities Network|publisher=UNESCO}}</ref> |- | [[Almaty]] | {{flag|Kazakhstan}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/almaty|title=Almaty}}</ref> |- | [[Amarante, Portugal|Amarante]] | {{flag|Portugal}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/amarante|title=Amarante}}</ref> |- | [[Ambon, Maluku|Ambon]] | {{flag|Indonesia}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Ambon}}</ref> |- | [[Auckland]] | {{flag|New Zealand}} | 2017<ref name="Auckland"/> |- |[[Banja Luka]] |{{flag|Bosnia & Herzegovina}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/55-new-cities-join-unesco-creative-cities-network-world-cities-day|title=55 new cities join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on World Cities Day|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> |- |[[Batumi|Batoumi]] |{{Flag|Georgia}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Batumi |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/batumi/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Belfast]] |{{GBR}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Belfast |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/belfast/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Bissau]] |{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Bogotá]] | {{flag|Colombia}} | 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bogota|title=Bogotá}}</ref> |- | [[Bologna]] | {{flag|Italy}} | 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/bologna|title=Bologna}}</ref> |- |[[Bolzano]] |{{flag|Italy}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Brazzaville]] | {{flag|Congo}} | 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/brazzaville|title=Brazzaville}}</ref> |- | [[Brno]] | {{flag|Czech Republic}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/brno|title=Brno}}</ref> |- |[[Bydgoszcz]] |{{flag|Poland}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- |[[Caracas]] |{{flag|Venezuela}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Chennai]] | {{flag|India}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/chennai|title=Chennai}}</ref> |- |[[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]] |{{Flag|Chile}} |2023<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Concepción |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/concepcion/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Da Lat]] |{{flag|Vietnam}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Daegu]] | {{flag|South Korea}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/daegu|title=Daegu}}</ref> |- | [[Essaouira]] | {{flag|Morocco}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Essaouira}}</ref> |- | [[Évian-les-Bains]] | {{flag|France}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/world-cities-day-2025-unesco-creative-cities-network-welcomes-58-new-member-cities |date=31 October 2023 |website=UNESCO |title= On World Cities Day 2025, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network welcomes 58 new member cities|access-date=31 October 2023}}</ref> |- | [[Frutillar]] | {{flag|Chile}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/frutillar|title=Frutillar}}</ref> |- | [[Ghent]] | {{flag|Belgium}} | 2009<ref name="Ghent"/> |- | [[Glasgow]] | {{flag|United Kingdom}} | 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/glasgow|title=Glasgow}}</ref> |- |[[Gwalior]] |{{flag|India}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Hamamatsu]] | {{flag|Japan}} | 2014<ref name="Hamamatsu"/> |- | [[Hanover]] | {{flag|Germany}} | 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/hannover|title=Hanover}}</ref> |- | [[Havana]] | {{flag|Cuba}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Havana}}</ref> |- |[[Huancayo]] |{{Flag|Peru}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Huancayo |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/huancayo/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- |[[Ibagué]] |{{Flag|Colombia}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Ibagué |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/ibague/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[Idanha-a-Nova]] | {{flag|Portugal}} | 2015<ref name="Idanha-a-Nova"/> |- |[[Ipoh]] |{{flag|Malaysia}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] | {{flag|United States}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web |title=Kansas City |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/creative-cities/kansas-city?hub=80094 |website=UNESCO |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref> |- | [[Katowice]] | {{flag|Poland}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/katowice|title=Katowice}}</ref> |- | [[Kazan]] | {{flag|Russia}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Kazan}}</ref> |- |[[Kharkiv]] |{{Flag|Ukraine}} |2021 |- | [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] | {{flag|Jamaica}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/kingston|title=Kingston}}</ref> |- | [[Kinshasa]] | {{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/kinshasa|title=Kinshasa}}</ref> |- | [[Kırşehir]] | {{flag|Turkey}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Kırşehir}}</ref> |- | [[Kisumu]] | {{flag|Kenya}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Korhogo]] | {{flag|Ivory Coast}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Kyiv]] | {{flag|Ukraine}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Lalitpur, Nepal|Lalitpur]] | {{flag|Nepal}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Leiria]] | {{flag|Portugal}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Leiria}}</ref> |- | [[Liège]] | {{flag|Belgium}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Liverpool]] | {{flag|United Kingdom}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/liverpool|title=Liverpool}}</ref> |- | [[Llíria]] | {{flag|Spain}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Llíria}}</ref> |- | [[London, Ontario|London]] | {{flag|Canada}} | 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/london/article/london-ont-is-canadas-first-unesco-city-of-music/|title = London, Ont. Is Canada's first UNESCO City of Music|date = 8 November 2021}}</ref> |- | [[Mannheim]] | {{flag|Germany}} | 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/mannheim|title=Mannheim}}</ref> |- | [[Medellín]] | {{flag|Colombia}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/medellin|title=Medellín}}</ref> |- | [[Metz]] | {{flag|France}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Metz}}</ref> |- |[[Mexicali]] |{{flag|Mexico}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- |[[Montreux]] |{{flag|Switzerland}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Morelia]] | {{flag|Mexico}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/morelia|title=Morelia}}</ref> |- | [[New Orleans]] | {{flag|United States}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Nikšić]] | {{flag|Montenegro}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- | [[Norrköping]] | {{flag|Sweden}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/norrkoping|title=Norrköping}}</ref> |- | [[Pesaro]] | {{flag|Italy}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/pesaro|title=Pesaro}}</ref> |- |[[Port Louis]] |{{Flag|Mauritius}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-14 |title=Port Louis |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/port-louis/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[Port of Spain]] | {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Port of Spain}}</ref> |- | [[Praia, Cape Verde (municipality)|Praia]] | {{flag|Cape Verde}} | 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/praia|title=Praia}}</ref> |- | [[Ramallah]] | {{flag|Palestine}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Ramallah}}</ref> |- |[[Recife]] |{{Flag|Brazil}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Recife |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/recife/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[Salvador, Bahia|Salvador]] | {{flag|Brazil}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/salvador|title=Salvador}}</ref> |- | [[Sanandaj]] | {{flag|Iran}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Sanandaj}}</ref> |- |[[Urfa|Şanlıurfa]] |{{flag|Turkey}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- |[[Santiago de Cuba]] |{{Flag|Cuba}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Santiago de Cuba |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/santiago-de-cuba/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |- | [[Santo Domingo]] | {{flag|Dominican Republic}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Santo Domingo}}</ref> |- | [[Seville]] | {{flag|Spain}} | 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/seville|title=Seville}}</ref> |- |[[Suphan Buri]] |{{flag|Thailand}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Tallinn]] | {{flag|Estonia}} | 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/tallinn|title=Tallinn}}</ref> |- | [[Tongyeong]] | {{flag|South Korea}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/tongyeong|title=Tongyeong}}</ref> |- |[[Toulouse]] |{{flag|France}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Valledupar]] | {{flag|Colombia}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Valledupar}}</ref> |- | [[Valparaíso]] | {{flag|Chile}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Valparaíso}}</ref> |- | [[Varanasi]] | {{flag|India}} | 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/varanasi|title=Varanasi}}</ref> |- |[[Varaždin]] |{{flag|Croatia}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- |[[Veliky Novgorod]] |{{flag|Russia}} |2023<ref name="CreativeCities2023"/> |- | [[Veszprém]] | {{flag|Hungary}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Veszprém}}</ref> |- | [[Vranje]] | {{flag|Serbia}} | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/events/unesco-designates-66-new-creative-cities|title=Vranje}}</ref> |- | [[Wuxi]] | {{flag|China}} | 2025<ref name="CreativeCities2025"/> |- |[[Xalapa]] |{{Flag|Mexico}} |2021<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Xalapa |url=https://citiesofmusic.net/city/xalapa/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=UNESCO Cities of Music |language=en}}</ref> |}
==See also== *[[City of Gastronomy]] *[[City of Literature]] *[[City of Film]] *[[Design Cities (UNESCO)]] *[[City of Crafts and Folk Arts]] *[[City of Media Arts]]
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|https://citiesofmusic.net/}}
[[Category:Musical culture]] [[Category:UNESCO]] [[Category:Lists of cities]]