Türkiye has officially joined the prestigious circle of UNESCO Cities of Literature. Kahramanmaraş has become the country’s first and only city to receive UNESCO’s “City of Literature” designation, taking its place alongside internationally renowned literary capitals such as Edinburgh, Dublin and Kraków. This international recognition brings Kahramanmaraş’s centuries-old literary heritage onto the global stage while opening a new chapter in the city’s vision for culture-led development and international cultural cooperation.

Established in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network promotes creativity as a strategic driver for sustainable urban development. Today, hundreds of cities across the world collaborate within the network across fields including literature, gastronomy, design, music, film, media arts, crafts and folk art.

The title of “City of Literature” is awarded not simply to cities with a distinguished literary past, but to those where literature continues to shape everyday life through cultural policies, educational initiatives, literary production and community engagement. By combining its remarkable literary legacy with vibrant contemporary cultural activities, Kahramanmaraş has earned its place within this distinguished international network.

Beyond its symbolic significance, the designation creates new opportunities for international visibility, cultural tourism, creative industries and sustainable economic development.

Five Centuries of Literary Heritage Recognised by UNESCO

One of the strongest pillars of Kahramanmaraş’s successful UNESCO application was its uninterrupted literary tradition spanning nearly five centuries.

From Halîlî-i Maraşî and Karacaoğlan to Sünbülzâde Vehbî and Kuddûsî Ahmed Efendi, the city’s rich literary legacy has continued into the modern era through some of Türkiye’s most influential writers and poets, including Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, Nuri Pakdil, Cahit Zarifoğlu, Rasim Özdenören, Erdem Bayazıt, Mehmet Akif İnan and Alaeddin Özdenören.

Bringing together folk literature, classical Ottoman poetry, Sufi literary traditions and contemporary literature within a shared cultural memory, Kahramanmaraş offers a distinctive literary identity among UNESCO Cities of Literature.

The Result of a Long-Term Cultural Vision

The UNESCO City of Literature designation is not the outcome of a single application or short-term initiative, but the culmination of years of strategic cultural investment.

International poetry and literature festivals, the Kahramanmaraş Book Fair, the International Kahramanmaraş Literature Awards, symposiums, literary talks, youth-oriented literature projects and initiatives such as the “Literature Route” collectively demonstrated the city’s vibrant literary ecosystem and formed the foundation of its successful UNESCO nomination.

Rather than celebrating only its literary past, Kahramanmaraş proved itself to be a living city where literature continues to be created, shared and celebrated.

International Experience Demonstrates Long-Term Value

The experiences of UNESCO Cities of Literature around the world clearly demonstrate that the designation extends far beyond symbolic recognition.

Following its designation, Edinburgh expanded one of the world’s most prestigious international book festivals, while Dublin further integrated its literary heritage into the everyday identity of the city. Kraków strengthened its international reputation through literary festivals, cultural routes and creative projects.

What these cities have in common is their ability to position literature not only as cultural heritage but also as a dynamic contributor to economic growth, tourism and urban development.

Literature as a Driver of the Creative Economy

As the global creative economy continues to expand, cities increasingly recognise literature as a catalyst for sustainable development.

Literary museums, writers’ trails, poetry routes, international festivals, book fairs and creative industries generate significant visitor activity while creating economic value across hospitality, publishing, transportation, gastronomy and cultural sectors.

In this context, Kahramanmaraş’s UNESCO City of Literature designation represents not only a major cultural achievement but also an important opportunity to strengthen cultural tourism and diversify the local economy through creative industries.

The First Steps After UNESCO Recognition

Following its UNESCO designation, Kahramanmaraş has already begun preparations to strengthen its international cultural calendar.

The Kahramanmaraş Book Fair, scheduled for October, and the 6th International Kahramanmaraş Literature Awards, to be held in November, will become flagship events supporting the city’s new UNESCO vision.

Both events, which already bring together leading authors, publishers and readers each year, are expected to attract broader international participation under the UNESCO banner, fostering stronger global literary partnerships while contributing to cultural tourism and the city’s growing creative economy.

A New Chapter on the Global Cultural Stage

With its UNESCO City of Literature designation, Kahramanmaraş is no longer only one of Türkiye’s most significant literary centres—it is now an active member of an international network dedicated to creativity, cultural exchange and sustainable urban development.

In the years ahead, international literary festivals, translation initiatives, cultural routes, publishing collaborations and creative industry projects are expected to further strengthen Kahramanmaraş’s position on the global literary map while generating new opportunities for cultural diplomacy, tourism and economic development.