BANGKOK, Thailand – The Ministry of Culture disclosed that Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province is scheduled for a final vote on UNESCO World Heritage registration in July 2026. Minister of Culture Sabeeda Thaised chaired the Cultural World Heritage Subcommittee Meeting No. 1/2026 to review the nomination status of key historic Thai sites. The subcommittee confirmed that Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is now on the agenda for the 48th Ordinary Session of the World Heritage Committee.
The international convention will be held from July 19 to 29, 2026, in Busan, Republic of Korea. Official voting results are expected between July 25 and 27, 2026. The minister stated that successful inscription would be a source of national pride and a significant step in promoting Thailand’s architectural and cultural heritage globally. The meeting also reviewed the nomination of “Chiang Mai, the Capital of Lanna,” which is currently in the documentation evaluation phase. A delegation of international technical experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will conduct a field evaluation from August 3 to 8, 2026, before the final submission to the World Heritage Committee in 2027. The subcommittee also approved the submission of the nomination dossier for “The Prang of Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Identity of Rattanakosin.” The documents will be sent to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by September 15, 2026, to prepare for the next stage of UNESCO’s review. (NNT)
