Italy’s Cuisine Earns UNESCO World Heritage Status — A Global Recognition of Culture, Identity, and Tradition

Italian cuisine — one of the world’s most influential cultural traditions — has officially been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking a historic milestone both for Italy and for global culinary heritage.

This is the first time UNESCO has inscribed an entire national cuisine rather than a single culinary practice. Previous recognitions have honored specific traditions such as Neapolitan pizza-making, Japanese washoku, or French gastronomic meals. Today’s decision elevates the whole of Italian culinary culture, acknowledging its social, historical, and communal significance.

What UNESCO Recognized

UNESCO’s inscription celebrates Italian cuisine not simply as a collection of recipes, but as a living cultural system. It encompasses the traditions handed down through generations, the striking diversity of regional identities, artisanal methods, seasonal ingredients, and the rituals of gathering around the table.

Italian cuisine, in UNESCO’s words, embodies continuity, memory, and shared identity — values preserved through everyday practices as much as through festivals and national celebrations.

A Milestone for Italy — and a Signal to the World

For Italy, the recognition affirms something long understood domestically: food is an expression of national identity and cultural pride. It represents regional histories, local craftsmanship, and the deep relationships between land, people, and tradition.

For the international community, this recognition highlights the growing importance of culinary diplomacy. Italian cuisine is one of the world’s most widely embraced traditions, and its inscription underscores the role of food as a bridge between cultures at a time of increasing geopolitical fragmentation.

A Moment of Italian Soft Power

The inscription arrives at a dynamic moment for Italy’s engagement in multilateral diplomacy. It complements the country’s leadership at the United Nations, its role in the UNGA80 initiative, and the momentum leading up to the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

It also aligns with ongoing conversations around recognizing the Mediterranean diet — of which Italian culinary culture is a foundational pillar — reinforcing Italy’s broader message about sustainability, health, and shared cultural heritage.

Italian cuisine has long served as one of the country’s most effective tools of soft power; UNESCO has now formally acknowledged its global influence.

What Comes Next

Inscription on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list carries responsibilities. Italy will now be expected to support the preservation of regional traditions, promote culinary education, safeguard small producers, and protect artisanal knowledge from industrial erosion.

Globally, the recognition serves as a reminder that food cultures are part of humanity’s collective heritage — and that preserving them requires conscious effort in an era of rapid change, globalization, and environmental pressures.

UNESCO’s decision confirms what countless people around the world already understand:

Italian cuisine is not simply about what is on the plate. It is about continuity, community, and a way of life that continues to enrich global culture.