UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List 2026, Name List, Details

The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea, added six sites to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2026. Of these, three were inscribed through an emergency procedure. 

Six Sites Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage in Danger List in 2026

Three sites were newly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and simultaneously placed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger:

• Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape in South Sudan
• Mount Amel Castles in Lebanon
• Sebastia in the State of Palestine

Three previously recognised UNESCO World Heritage Sites were newly placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger:

• Ancient City of Taurica Chersonese and its Chora in Ukraine
• Historic Inner City of Paramaribo in Suriname
• Tyre in Lebanon

About Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape (South Sudan)

Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape is a vast East African savanna landscape known for the world’s largest known terrestrial mammal migration and rich biodiversity.

• It supports diverse communities that have traditionally practised herding, farming and fishing, reflecting the region’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
• Faces threats from infrastructure development, commercial poaching and wildlife trafficking.
• Persistent insecurity and limited institutional and financial capacity hinder effective conservation.
• Inscribed on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger through an emergency procedure.

Mount Amel Castles (Lebanon)

Located in the Jabal Amel region of southern Lebanon, Mount Amel Castles is a group of five castles that reflects the development of defensive architecture from the Crusades and Islamic dynasties to the 19th century.

• The site is important for understanding the military and architectural history of the region.
• It received enhanced protection from UNESCO in November 2024 due to the threat posed by armed conflict.
• Ongoing conflict has caused heavy damage and threatens the conservation of the site.
• The Committee has called for urgent measures to protect the castles.
• In 2026, it was added to the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger through an emergency procedure.

Sebastia (State of Palestine)

Located in the West Bank, Sebastia is an important archaeological site preserving the remains of civilisations that occupied the region over more than 2,000 years.

• Its history goes back at least to the 9th century BCE, when Samaria-Sebaste was the capital of the northern Kingdom of Israel.
• The site also contains remains from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Crusader, Ayyubid/Mamluk and Ottoman periods.
• During the Ottoman period, it was one of the designated “Throne Villages”.
• A major threat is the planned creation of the “Samaria” (Shomron) National Park, which could divide the heritage property.
• Added to both the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger through an emergency procedure.

Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora (Ukraine)

The Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora is an important archaeological site located in Crimea.

• The occupation of Crimea has prevented Ukraine from effectively ensuring the site’s protection, conservation and management.
• UNESCO and UNITAR/UNOSAT have used satellite imagery since 2014 to monitor the site.
• Monitoring has revealed deterioration caused by new construction and large-scale archaeological excavations.
• The Committee also called for stronger international cooperation to prevent the illegal trafficking of cultural property from Crimea.
• Originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2013; added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2026.

Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (Suriname)

The Historic Inner City of Paramaribo represents the historic urban heritage of Suriname.

• UNESCO recognised progress in management planning, institutional strengthening and fire-risk prevention.
• However, some construction projects were carried out without properly assessing their impact on the heritage site.
• The new National Assembly hall and Yogh parking garage were found to negatively affect the historic urban landscape.
• These developments were considered a serious threat to the site’s authenticity and integrity.
• Originally inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2002; added to the Danger List in 2026.

Tyre (Lebanon)

Tyre is an important archaeological and historical site whose remains reflect the long history of one of the ancient cities of the Mediterranean.

• Ongoing hostilities in Lebanon have created a direct threat to the site.
• The Committee determined that the conditions required to protect its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) are no longer adequately met.
• The site is also included on the International List of Cultural Property under Enhanced Protection under the 1999 Second Protocol to the 1954 Hague Convention.
• It was added to the Danger List at Lebanon’s request.
• The Committee urged all parties involved in hostilities to avoid further damage to the site and respect their obligations under international law.

About UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger

The UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger is maintained under the 1972 World Heritage Convention. It includes World Heritage properties facing serious and specific threats that may damage the very characteristics for which they were recognised as having Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

• Threats may arise from armed conflict, natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanisation, inappropriate development and climate change.
• A site may face an ascertained danger, where a serious and proven imminent threat already exists.
• It may also face a potential danger, where existing or planned activities could seriously damage its heritage values.
• Inscription is not a delisting or punishment. It is intended to mobilise international cooperation, technical assistance and financial support for conservation and corrective action.
• The World Heritage Fund may provide immediate assistance to endangered properties.

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Major Threats Highlighted by the 2026 Additions

The 2026 additions demonstrate that threats to World Heritage are increasingly multidimensional:

• Armed conflict: Damage to Mount Amel Castles and Tyre.
• Occupation and geopolitical instability: Threats to Taurica Chersonese and its Chora.
• Poaching and wildlife trafficking: Threats to Boma-Badingilo.
• Infrastructure and urban development: Threats to Boma-Badingilo and Paramaribo.
• Inadequate land-use planning: Threat to Sebastia.
• Weak institutional capacity and insecurity: Affecting conservation in South Sudan.
• Climate change and environmental pressures: Increasingly affecting heritage properties globally.