World Cities Culture Report 5th Edition

The 5th Edition of the World Cities Culture Report brings together data and case studies from 45 creative global cities representing over 260 million people. Published in October 2025, it is the most comprehensive source of cultural data and cultural policy and builds on previous editions (2012, 2015, 2018, 2022).

For the first time, this edition brings a city Data Explorer tool as well as Policy and Regional Insights showcasing culture as a key driver for sustainable urban development. It provides data insights and practical examples that all cities can use to shape their own cultural strategy and innovative cultural policies.

Key Data

• 260 million people represented across the World Cities Culture Forum network
• 1.3 billion tourists welcomed by our cities
• 120,329 heritage and historic sites
• 3,021 museums
• 4,012 public libraries
• 4,157 theatres
• 3,041 cinemas
• 1,086 cultural centres
• 4,150 live music venues
• 1,096 higher education providers
• 5,743 night clubs, discos and dance halls

What’s Inside the 5th Edition

The latest edition of the World Cities Culture Report offers a global overview of how cultural policy is contributing to urban development across the world. Key sections include:

• Key Findings: this section outlines findings with an overview of our city data. It also highlights how data can strengthen policy.
• Policy Insights: this section looks at global cultural policy trends, with data and insights on protecting creative workspaces, growing the night-time economy, addressing climate change and engaging with the next generation. It also looks at culture’s role in health and wellbeing, the impacts of new technology and AI, tourism and representation in the public realm.
• Regional Insights: this section highlights regional cultural policy trends, with a global overview and an in depth look at Africa and Latin America, both regions with rapidly growing creative cities. We also have a visual regional trends map.
• Data Explorer: here you can search and explore our city data, using the new CREATIVE Data Framework, designed to showcase cities culture and creative economy data
• City Projects: you can search and explore over 125 practical city projects, showcasing how creativity in cities drives urban development. City projects cover a wide range of themes such as intangible cultural heritage, cultural infrastructure, youth and education, support to artists and many more.

The World Cities Culture Report is the place where cities share best ideas and showcase culture data. Together, we make the case for culture as a key ingredient for urban development and together, we advance our vision to build a world where culture is at the heart of thriving cities.