The International Festival of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Chengdu, China (ICH Festival) is dedicated to the safeguarding of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage and to promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning. Established in 2007, the festival is held biennially in Chengdu and is co-hosted by the People’s Government of Sichuan Province, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, UNESCO, and the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO.

Over its eight successful editions, the festival has released four key outcome documents, including the Chengdu Declaration, and has hosted over 3,000 cultural events, featuring more than 10,000 intangible heritage items and over 700 performing groups. More than 4,000 representatives from 135 countries, regions, and NGOs, along with over 50,000 domestic participants, have taken part in the festival. With over 20 million citizens and visitors participating on site, it has become a globally recognised and widely attended international cultural event.

The 9th ICH Festival will be held from 28 May to 3 June 2025 at the Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park, under the theme “Promoting Exchange and Mutual Appreciation, Spurring Vitality of Inheritance, Sharing a Better Life.” For the first time, it introduces a new mechanism featuring a Country of Honour and City of Honour, and adopts a structured “3+3+N” framework. Nearly 600 representative intangible heritage items and around 400 practitioners from 60 countries will participate, showcasing global achievements in intangible cultural heritage safeguarding and promotion.