11 September 2026
Last update:18 September 2026
UNESCO’s Culture x El Niñoinitiative will benefit national authorities for culture, cultural and natural heritage sitemanagers, museums and other cultural institutions, cultural practitioners, local andIndigenous communities, school and youth groups.It brings together UNESCO’s key institutional partners:UnitedNations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), ICCROM,ICOMand the Smithsonian Institution.
UNESCO stands ready to support the culture sector in response to the ongoing effects of El Niño. Early investment and anticipatory action can substantially reduce losses and generate benefits for affected communities.
We call on partners and authorities to assess the risk of this climate emergency on culture and begin preparedness measures without delay.
UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez
El Niño affects culture
El Niño isnatural warming of the surface waters of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Occurring every two to seven years and typically lasting nine to twelve months, El Niño shifts rainfall, temperature and storm patterns far beyond the Pacific.
In 2026,the United Nationsissued multiple warnings,pointingto a significant El Niño event affecting countries already exposed to climate change, conflict and economic pressures.In early September, the World Meteorological Organization confirmed that El Niño is firmly established and will intensify into a very strong event. It is expected to peak towards the end of 2026 and continue well into 2027.
El Niño-related droughts, floods, storms, landslides and wildfires present major risks to all forms of culture, including both cultural and natural heritage and cultural practices. These hazards can damage historic buildings, archaeological sites, museums, archives,librariesand cultural landscapes. They can alsodisruptcultural practicesandlivelihoods connected to culture and tourism, as well asplace pressure on communities that safeguard living heritage. Indigenous Peoples are often the most directly exposed, andtheirknowledge of local environmental signalsis a key resource for anticipating and responding to these hazards.
UNESCO preparedness and response
UNESCO is launching acampaignof preparedness and anticipatory action for the 2026–2027 El Niño event.
The Culture x El Niño campaign uses forecasts, risk information and early-warning systems to enable authorities and communities to act before the full impact of a hazard is felt.
As a first step,regional webinars on risk preparedness will be organizedfor national authorities, cultural institutions, site managers, heritage professionals and emergency-management partners. These webinars will present the expected El Niño risk outlook, outline its potential implications forcultureand provide practical guidance on preparedness and anticipatory action.
In addition, bespoketechnical assistancewill be providedto countries located in high-risk zones. Depending on national needs, this support may include:
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Rapidrisk assessments for cultural heritage sites and institutions
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Preparedness and contingency planning, including developing or updating disaster risk management plans
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Review and updating of emergency contact lists and coordination arrangements
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Guidance on measures to protect collections, archives and movable heritage
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Planning for floods, storms, drought, wildfire and related secondary hazards
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Advice on documentation, evacuation, temporary storage and emergency stabilization
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Supportfor integrating culture into national and local disaster-risk management systems
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Organization of museum exhibitions, education and outreachprogrammeson El Niño and its impact on culture
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Coordinationamong cultural authorities, civil protection bodies, humanitarian actors and local communities
Mobilizing the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund
To support the first phase of the campaign, UNESCO has allocated150,000 USD from theHeritage Emergency Fundfor preparednessmeasures.
This initial allocation will enable the Organization to begin supporting risk analysis, technical guidance, capacitydevelopmentand urgent preparedness activities in priority countries.
Experience from previous climate emergenciesand their impactshow that further ree culture sector and provide emergency response as its impactsmaterialize across several regions simultaneously.stands ready toexpand technical assistance, deploy specialist expertise, support emergency documentation and stabilization, provide equipment and materials and assist countries in responding rapidly to damageat a larger scale
Part of the wider United Nations response
UNESCO’s Culture x El Niñoforms part of the broader United Nations response to the 2026–2027 El Niño event.UNESCOis coordinating its actions withUNDRR andpartners working in the field of culture.
This coordination helpsensure that cultural heritage and cultural institutions are appropriately considered within wider risk assessments, early-warning arrangements, preparednessplansand emergency-response mechanisms.
