10 U.S. Cities Most Travelers Don’t Realize Are UNESCO Creative Hubs

In an era where heritage, culture, and diversity reign supreme, we’re all looking for places close to home that deliver deep, local value.  I’m searching for the same, and one of my biggest home runs yet has been discovering UNESCO Creative Cities USA destinations. Each one is so special; only 10 have earned the designation in the USA over the last 22 years. Each of these diverse cities is unique in its own set of qualifying attributes, yet equally robust in cultural and artistic offerings. 

What are UNESCO Creative Cities, USA? 

Before we begin exploring, let’s untangle the meaning of UNESCO cities, United States-specific. For starters, UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. It’s often associated with the cultural preservation of world heritage sites like Machu Picchu and the Pyramids of Giza.  It’s a global leader in advocacy for cultural preservation of all types, and the UNESCO Creative Cities are celebrated for their creativity and innovation, combined with social inclusion and sustainable urban development.

The cities are labeled by eight types of creativity: crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, music, and architecture. In the U.S., our UNESCO Creative Cities include Santa Fe, Iowa City, Paducah,  Tucson, Austin, Detroit, Kansas City, San Antonio, Seattle, and New Orleans.

1. Santa Fe, New Mexico: A UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art

Thanks to its vibrant and ornate ancestral pottery, metalwork, fiber arts, food, and music, Santa Fe was the first city in the USA to receive the UNESCO Creative City Designation. The best way to appreciate Santa Fe as a cultural destination is through its 250 distinct art galleries and five major artisan markets. The galleries are mostly open year-round, as is the Railyard Artisan Market, which is open every Sunday at the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market. It typically features over 100 local artists and craftspeople selling jewelry, crafts, and fine art.

Other notable Santa Fe markets include the International Folk Art Market and the Spanish Market, both on different, select weekends in July.  The first is one of the world's largest artisan markets, often hosting artists from at least 50 countries. The Spanish Market is dedicated to traditional colonial art forms such as tinwork, textiles, and wood carvings. It hosts several hundred art vendors and sees thousands of visitors each day. In late August, you’ll find the Santa Fe Indian Market, the largest indigenous art market in the USA. Then, in late September or early October, the Native American Art Market wraps up the market season. It exclusively showcases Native American art, in both traditional and contemporary forms.

2. Iowa City, Iowa: A UNESCO Creative City of Literature

A few years after Santa Fe was recognized as one of the top global cultural destinations, USA creativity was noted once again, this time in Iowa. In 2008, the picturesque University town of Iowa City was named the world's first UNESCO Creative City of Literature. The University itself drew attention to the city, as it’s home to the oldest creative writing degree in the United States.  Established in 1936, it has turned out countless notable authors, including Pulitzer Prize winners, Poets Laureate, and best-selling authors.

Key places to visit in Iowa’s UNESCO Creative City are the University of Iowa campus, the Englert Theatre, the Iowa City Public Library in the Ped Mall, the Iowa Avenue Literary Walk, and the Prairie Lights Bookstore. The city also hosts numerous annual events celebrating its literary heritage, including the Iowa City Book Festival, the Children’s Literature Festival, and Poetry in Public. The Iowa City Book Festival happens in October, and Poetry in Public takes place in April during National Poetry Month. 

3. Paducah, Kentucky: A UNESCO Creative City of Crafts & Folk Art

After Iowa, it took another five long years before UNESCO recognized additional arts cities in America. With it came the return of the coveted title, Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art in Paducah, Kentucky. But this time, the recognition wasn’t for ancestral pottery and textiles as it was in Santa Fe, but for the craft of quilting. Quilting is a tradition often linked to the pioneer era, when the art form was essential for surviving harsh winters on the American Frontier. But it is also a heritage art, with patterns and stitching techniques influenced by immigrants from around the world, including Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans. Quilting eventually became a social event that strengthened communities and preserved tradition.

Today, there are many creative things to do in Paducah, especially related to their folk arts. The Kentucky city routinely hosts quilting workshops, shows, and exhibitions. The entire city is rich in quilt-themed shops and events, but some of the key attractions are the National Quilt Museum and Quilt Week, which happens twice a year, in April and September. The events are incredibly popular and energetic, with hotels booking out in months in advance. 

4. Tucson, Arizona: A UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

In 2015, we saw a bumper year for UNESCO designations. USA cities that made the cut include Tucson, Austin, and Detroit. Tucson wowed UNESCO through the belly, earning it the first label in the U.S. as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.  So what makes the food in Tucson so great? Generations-worth of agricultural history, heritage, and diversity. Where the food comes from is everything, and Tucson is the epitome of a farm-to-fork society. This massive city of over 1 million residents is home to 300-year-old  livestock ranches, vineyards, and orchards, which have inspired a wide array of distinct heritage foods unique to Tucson.

As for what to eat: start with Sonoran Hot Dogs, mesquite-grilled meats, Tucson Mexican food, breakfast burritos, and prickly pear cactus everything. And you won’t have any trouble finding a palace to chow down. Tucson has over 700 eateries and more than two dozen food festivals, farmers' markets, and fairs throughout the year. A few of the most famous include the Tucson Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday year-round, and the “Tucson Meet Yourself” folk food festival, which UNESCO recognizes. There you’ll find hundreds of local food vendors serving iconic Tucson eats to the beat of live street performances and food workshops. Don’t miss it in Downtown Tucson in October. 

5. Austin, Texas: A UNESCO City of Media Arts

Texas is the only state to boast two UNESCO cities, making it a must-visit for those seeking culturally creative cities. USA Travel is currently at an all-time high in both Austin and the state of Texas, making it an ideal, fresh pick for a U.S. road trip destination. Austin’s UNESCO recognition is in Media Arts. The media arts being celebrated here are a refined mix of technology, storytelling, and creativity that translate into film, digital art, augmented reality, podcasting, digital gaming, and AI art. The city offers endless opportunities to experience them all through abundant points of interest, festivals, workshops, and public art installations.

Visiting UMAA (UNESCO Media Arts Austin) is the best way to start your visit. It’s a hub for discovering what’s happening in the moment, a gateway to local art festivals, workshops, and art residencies. The Blanton Museum of Art is also a cornerstone of the art community, featuring numerous digital art and media exhibits. DAME (Diverse Arts Media Enterprise) showcases underrepresented voices in media arts, and the Austin Public Library is known for offering free and affordable resources to artists, like access to podcasting equipment, video editing tools, 3D printers, and virtual reality simulators. Public art and interactive installations are also prolific throughout Austin, with offerings in almost every corner of the city, including Laguna Gloria Grounds, the Austin Convention Center, the Contemporary Austin – Jones Center, the 2nd Street District, and South Congress. Must-see media arts festivals in Austin include Aqua Fest, the Austin Bat Fest, Southwest by Southwest (SXSW), and the Austin International Art Festival.

6. Detroit, Michigan: A UNESCO Creative City of Design

Adding yet another category to our creativity in the U.S., Detroit became the third city designated in 2015. It’s the only one of our UNESCO cities (United States ) to earn the title of Creative City of Design. This gargantuan city stands out for its industrial and engineering design, developed over a century of industrial progress on the banks of the Great Lakes. Detroit’s creativity is closely tied to the automobile industry, but its industrial design vibes also spill over into architecture. And beyond visual interest, there is an intricate network of enterprise and public policy that uplifts visionaries and drives social impact, making equal-opportunity design a truly cultural aspect of living in this innovative Michigan city.

One of the best things to do in Detroit is attend the Detroit Design Festival throughout September. The festival invites freelance designers to rub shoulders, network, and workshop with over 500 global designers, making it the largest freelance design festival in North America. Additional stars of the Detroit automotive design scene include the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (the birthplace of the Model T), MOCAD (Museums of Contemporary Art Detroit), and the Detroit Institute of Arts. On the architectural side of design, must-sees include the Art Deco Fisher Building and Guardian Building, as well as the Beaux-Arts-style Belle Isle Conservatory. But perhaps the most iconic of them is Cadillac Palace (the original General Motors Headquarters), which features both automotive and architectural industrial design. 

7. Kansas City, Missouri: A UNESCO Creative City of Music

After a pause in 2016, with no new Creative City UNESCO designations in U.S. cities, Kansas City launched us into the Music category in 2017. This Missouri metropolis has deep roots in jazz and is credited with developing a unique variation of the genre known as the “Kansas City Sound,” which emerged in the swing era of the 1920s. But a new wave of sounds was just the start. Over the next decades, the city became increasingly known for its improvisational music, progressive politics, and racial integration at a time when few other cities could claim the same. Through it all, the unifying force has always been music, creating a long legacy of renowned musicians such as Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Bennie Moten, and Charlie Parker. In its jazz heyday, Kansas City had over 100 jazz clubs and venues.

Though there are far fewer today, it’s still the most iconic way to embrace what makes Kansas City deserving of a UNESCO Creative City of Music designation. The best place to find those is in the historic 18th & Vine Jazz District. Kansas City also hosts more than 200 music events every year, but the Kansas City Jazz & Blues Festival, typically held in October, is the one worth planning your visit around. Additional Jazz-centric places around Kansas City that belong on the must-see list include the American Jazz Museum, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Charlie Parker Memorial, and the 12th Street Heritage Park.

8. San Antonio, Texas: A UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

2017 proved to be another bumper year, adding two more Creative City cultural destinations. USA's favorite UNESCO state, Texas, took one of those slots for gastronomy in San Antonio. San Antonio takes pride in being a melting pot of cultures, a fact that is undeniably reflected at that table. But this designation is not just about heritage foods that made their way to the U.S. from Asia, Africa, and Europe. It’s also about health and nutrition, because San Antonio reliably serves culture-rich foods that are also intrinsically healthy. The city boasts an entire grassroots network of chefs, food banks, and farmers' markets under the Healthy Neighborhoods program designed to address childhood obesity and diabetes-friendly food lifestyles. It’s not surprising to learn that fusion foods, heirloom produce, and farm-to-fork ingredients take center stage in San Antonio, and even vegetarian dishes have earned their place here.

Distinctly San Antonian foods to try include the molcajete guacamole, the San Antonian Bean Burger, barbacoa (slow-cooked Tex-Mex meat), and chile con carne (the city’s official dish, a hearty meat stew with chili peppers). San Antonia hosts numerous agritourism events throughout the year that give an insider’s perspective of this culinary hub. Key events include the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in February, the San Antonio Food & Wine Festival in March, and the Pearl’s Farmer’s Market on Sundays year-round. 

9. Seattle, Washington: A UNESCO Creative City of Literature

 Rounding off the year’s list of UNESCO arts cities in America, Seattle joined the rankings with a Creative City of Literature designation. America’s “Most well-read city in the U.S. ” is also ranked among the most literate cities in the country, and it’s likely thanks to a jaw-dropping 10,000-year history of storytelling that began with its original indigenous population. Somehow, it’s not surprising that Seattle also hosts the largest art festival, Bumbershoot, the legendary comic festival, Short Run Comix and Art Festival,  as well as numerous local and visiting conferences for writers’ associations. The Seattle Film Festival also has a literary focus, representing book-to-film adaptations.

The city is credited with developing hundreds of notable writers, including novelists, journalists, and poets, from historically significant figures to pop culture icons. For the full literary experience, it’s worth visiting during the major festivals, but don’t forget to hone in on the local gems, too, like the Seattle Public Library, the Suzallo Library at Washington State University, Elliot Bay Book Company, the Richard Hugo House, and the Frye Art Museum. Seattle also offers abundant literary walking tours, both self-guided and guided, in areas like Capitol Hill, Pike Place Market, and Fremont.

10. New Orleans, Louisiana: A UNESCO Creative City of Music

Just when it seemed like we were done receiving the UNESCO Creative City designations, New Orleans re-established the USA's presence on the list with a new Music City label. It happened just last year, after an 8-year pause, when one of the most culturally and artistically relevant cities in North America took its rightful spot in the global network. Known as the birthplace of both Jazz and Cajun music, plus many additional innovative sounds like Swamp Pop, Dixieland, Bebop, Free Jazz, and Zydeco. Each spring, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival attracts nearly half a million visitors. It takes place in late April or early May and is a weeklong celebration of music, culture, and food in New Orleans.  Beyond the festival, jazz and heritage music can be experienced daily in New Orleans through street performers on Frenchman Street and Royal Street in the French Quarter. 

Other things to do in New Orleans include visiting the interactive outdoor music installations at The Music Box Village. You can also see venue performances regularly at Preservation Hall, Tipitina's, and the Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Other must-see jazz spots in New Orleans include Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz Museum. 

Discovering UNESCO Creative Cities Across the US

I am so grateful for the discovery of the UNESCO Creative Cities and the 10 designated cities in the U.S. To me, they represent a kaleidoscope of arts, heritage, and culture with a hyper-local vibe that screams the authenticity we crave. They give us global relevance in a way that naturally uplifts our roots while also embracing innovation. And I wouldn’t mind embarking on a USA road trip that infinitely loops between Santa Fe, Iowa City, Paducah, Tucson, Austin, Detroit, Kansas City, San Antonio, Seattle, and New Orleans. If you’ll be doing the same, don’t forget to add these 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the U.S. to your trip.