Miri is setting its sights on becoming a UNESCO City of Literature by 2027, with the Sarawak Government supporting the city’s aspiration to strengthen its literary ecosystem, cultural identity and creative economy.
Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said Miri’s multicultural character, diverse communities, languages, traditions and stories provide a strong foundation for the city’s proposed nomination.
He said the objective should go beyond securing an international title, with the process aimed at strengthening Miri’s literary ecosystem and creating opportunities for local communities.
The aspiration was announced during a press conference on the Sarawak Literature Festival 2026 and Miri’s UNESCO City of Literature initiative on September 8, 2026.
Miri’s literary strengths
Miri City Council is leading the city’s aspiration to pursue UNESCO recognition, with a nomination dossier and four-year action plan expected to be prepared as part of the process.
According to The Star, the city is targeting nomination readiness during the 2027 cycle, while the dossier and action plan are expected to be prepared by the first half of next year.
Miri’s proposed literary identity will draw on its multicultural population, indigenous communities, languages, traditions and oral histories.
Abdul Karim also highlighted the roles of Miri City Council, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, universities, schools, writers, publishers, cultural organisations and community groups in developing the city’s literary ecosystem.
The minister said greater efforts should be made to document, translate and publish stories preserved through oral traditions and community memory.
The initiative is also expected to encourage young writers to produce contemporary works while maintaining connections with Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
Literature could strengthen Miri’s tourism appeal
The proposed City of Literature status could also connect Miri’s literary activities with tourism and the wider creative economy.
Abdul Karim said opportunities could include literary trails, heritage storytelling, festivals, author residencies and cultural exchanges.
Such initiatives could allow visitors to experience Miri and Sarawak through stories, languages, writers, heritage and community traditions.
Miri’s position as the gateway to northern Sarawak also provides a potential platform for connecting literary activities with the region’s diverse cultural heritage.
The Sarawak Government has also stressed that the UNESCO application cannot be submitted directly by the state government. The nomination process involves the relevant national authorities because UNESCO recognition is made through member states.
What is a UNESCO City of Literature?
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was established in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that use creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
UNESCO currently recognises eight creative fields: Architecture, Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts and Music.
Cities applying to join the network must demonstrate their cultural and creative strengths, commitment to the network’s objectives and capacity to implement a realistic four-year action plan.
UNESCO said the network had grown to 408 cities in more than 100 countries following the 2025 designations.
UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network currently lists 79 Literature entries, including cities such as Aberystwyth, Abuja, Angoulême, Baghdad, Barcelona, Beirut, Bremen, Bucheon, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gothenburg, Granada, Hobart, Iowa City, Jakarta, Kozhikode, Krakow, Lahore, Leeuwarden, Lillehammer, Ljubljana, Manchester, Melbourne, Milan, Montevideo, Nanjing, Nottingham, Okayama, Prague, Reykjavík, Rio de Janeiro, Seattle, Slemani, Taif, Tartu, Utrecht, Vilnius, Wonju and Wrocław. Recent 2025 additions include Aberystwyth, Abuja, Celje, Conakry, Dumaguete City, Gdańsk, Kahramanmaraş, Lund, San Luis Potosí and Tangier.
If Miri is able to join this international literary network, it will be the first City in Malaysia to do so.
Sources:
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network: Official UNESCO page
- UNESCO: How cities can join the Creative Cities Network
- UNESCO: 58 cities join the Creative Cities Network
- The Star: Miri bids to be UNESCO Creative City of Literature in 2027
- Sarawak Tribune: Miri eyes recognition as UNESCO City of Literature
