Italian cuisine is one step closer to becoming one of the few national cuisines awarded a place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On November 10, UNESCO’s evaluation body gave its first green light to Italy’s nomination, recommending that the country’s culinary traditions be inscribed on the list. The final verdict will be announced at the Intergovernmental Committee meeting in New Delhi from December 8 to 13, 2025.
Italy’s bid, submitted in March 2023 by the Ministries of Culture and of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, frames Italian cuisine as a shared cultural fabric rather than a single set of recipes. The dossier, coordinated by LUISS professor Pier Luigi Petrillo, celebrates the diversity of local ingredients, the craftsmanship of preparation, and the collective act of sharing meals as a reflection of Italy’s identity.
If approved, Italy would see its culinary tradition inscribed on the UNESCO list, rather than a specific dish or practice, a distinction previously achieved only by Mexico, Japan, and arguably France, with its Gastronomic Meal of the French. Previous Italian entries include The Art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo (2017) and The Mediterranean Diet (2010, jointly with several countries).
The nomination aims to protect a way of life increasingly under pressure from globalization. The text emphasizes the concept of convivialità as central to Italian culture: from Sunday lunch to regional sagre, cuisine is framed as a living expression of community and biodiversity. The economic dimension is also highlighted: Italian food culture generates an estimated €250 billion annually and serves as a cornerstone of Italy’s soft power.
Critics note the difficulty of defining a single “Italian cuisine,” given its regional and historical variety, from Alpine polenta to Sicilian couscous, but supporters argue that diversity itself is the essence of the nomination.
In the lead-up to December’s decision, Italy’s embassies and cultural institutes are spotlighting the nomination through the Settimana della Cucina Italiana nel Mondo, an annual celebration of Italian food culture taking place in over 100 countries. Should UNESCO confirm the inscription, Italy will be tasked with safeguarding this intangible heritage through education, research, and continued promotion of local food traditions.
