The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has designated Lahore, Pakistan, as its Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-2027.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has designated Lahore, Pakistan, as its Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-2027. The decision was made at the SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1, where leaders adopted the Bishkek Declaration and agreed on a range of measures across security, trade, and cultural cooperation.
The designation follows a proposal put forward by Pakistan earlier in the year and backed by several member states. Lahore succeeds the Kyrgyz city of Cholpon-Ata, which held the status for 2025-2026. The announcement comes as Pakistan prepares to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State for the 2026-2027 term.
Pakistan’s Lahore is one of South Asia’s oldest and most storied cities. As the capital of the Punjab province, it served as a seat of the Mughal Empire and later a center of Sikh and colonial rule, leaving behind a dense layer of history visible across the city today. Its landmarks include the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort, the Shalimar Gardens, and the Walled City, several of which carry UNESCO World Heritage recognition. Beyond its monuments, Lahore is widely regarded as Pakistan’s cultural heart, known for its food, poetry, music, festivals, and a tradition of hospitality that has long drawn visitors from across the region.
Lahore as SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital: What It Means
The Tourism and Cultural Capital title is awarded to a city within the SCO region to promote its cultural and historical heritage and to encourage tourism and people-to-people exchanges among member states. For Lahore, the designation places its heritage on a wider regional stage across the coming year.
Pakistan’s National Heritage and Culture Minister Aurangzeb Khan Khichi had earlier outlined the country’s plans for the year ahead. According to the Press Information Department, preparations are underway for a year-long calendar of cultural activities in Lahore, alongside major programmes in Islamabad and Karachi. The minister said Pakistan planned to organize four flagship cultural events in Lahore, complemented by a series of programmes throughout the year.
Embassies and consulates of SCO member states in Pakistan are to be invited to take part through cultural performances, exhibitions, and cultural troupes. The minister also invited the SCO Secretary-General and member states to participate in the annual Lok Virsa Folk Festival, to be held in Islamabad in November 2026.
SCO Summit in Bishkek and Pakistan’s Growing Role
The Lahore designation was one of several outcomes of the Bishkek summit, which marked the 25th anniversary of the organization. Leaders adopted the Bishkek Declaration and approved measures aimed at expanding cooperation on security, trade, and technology. The summit also approved closer cooperation between the SCO and the African Union Commission.
The SCO traces its origins to the “Shanghai Five,” established in 1996 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan joined when the organization was formally established in 2001. The grouping has expanded significantly since, with India and Pakistan becoming full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
Pakistan’s move to the chairmanship for 2026-2027 places it in a leading position within the organization for the coming year. The country is also expected to host the 24th Meeting of the SCO Ministers of Culture during its term. Officials have described the cultural programmes planned around Lahore’s designation as part of a broader effort to strengthen Pakistan’s role in cultural diplomacy within the bloc.
The recognition adds to a series of international tourism honors for Lahore. The city was previously named the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Tourism Capital for 2027, a separate designation awarded by that regional body.
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