The UNESCO Creative Cities Network maintains a roster of cities that are world leaders in creativity – and now Budapest is officially added to the list. After Design Terminal submitted an application to join the ranks of this organization, Budapest was successfully declared as one of the most innovative places of modern times, alongside cities like Melbourne, Shanghai, and Berlin.

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network honors major communities that are proven as contemporary leaders in creative endeavors and in having a creativity-driven economy. With the successful application submitted by Design Terminal, supported by the Municipality of Budapest, the Hungarian capital became the first Central European city to be awarded the title “City of Design”, and became an official member of the Creative Cities Network alongside cities like Melbourne, Shanghai, and Berlin.

Members of the network have the opportunity to showcase their creative industries and participate in the exchange of knowledge and experiences with other member cities. “UNESCO’s decision provides important feedback that will strengthen the position of Budapest as a hub of the region’s creative industry,” said Gergely Böszörményi-Nagy, director of Design Terminal, while deputy mayor Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky defined Budapest as one of the world’s most exciting cities. “It is an ideal scene for mixing innovation, continuous improvement, diverse culture, and a dynamic economy.”