Overview
- UNESCO confirmed the designation on October 31 at its General Conference in Samarkand as part of 58 additions to the Creative Cities Network, which now counts 408 member cities.
- The recognition places Lucknow among roughly 70 gastronomy cities worldwide and makes it the second Indian city with the title after Hyderabad.
- Uttar Pradesh’s tourism directorate filed the nomination on January 31, 2025, the Centre selected it on March 3, and research led by heritage architect Abha Narain Lambah documented living Awadhi food traditions for the dossier.
- State officials plan to leverage the tag for culinary tourism, small food enterprises and sustainable practices, citing 8.27 million visitors in 2024 and 7.02 million in the first half of 2025.
- Leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh welcomed the designation, while UNESCO’s Tim Curtis praised Lucknow’s vibrant food ecosystem rooted in Awadhi cuisine.