Updating the inventory

In 2008, the Swiss Confederation ratified the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The 2003 Convention imposes, amongst other things, the obligation to maintain a national inventory of intangible cultural heritage, to update it regularly, and to take measures to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. The procedure for new inscriptions and amendments to existing entries on the “Inventory of Living Traditions in Switzerland” was revised in 2026, in consultation with the cantons, cities and municipalities.

Lagh da Val Viola, Val da Camp — © Alejandro Hagen

New inscriptions

According to the spirit of the Convention, only the bearers of living traditions may now submit an application for inclusion on the ‘Inventory of Living Traditions in Switzerland’. In their application, they must provide evidence of support from the cantons concerned. The agreement of one or more cantons is an essential prerequisite for the application to be assessed.

Applications for inclusion on the ‘Inventory of Living Traditions in Switzerland’ may be submitted to the Federal Office of Culture (FOC) every two years as part of an electronic call for applications. Applications must contain a complete dossier, comprising at least a description of the tradition, relevant links and contact details of the bearers, as well as recent photographs. The FOC officially announces the publication of each call for applications. The next call for applications for new listings is expected to take place in 2028.

A standing committee for intangible cultural heritage (ICH Committee) is set up by the FOC. Its role is to examine the dossiers submitted and to submit its recommendations to the FOC. The FOC makes its decision on the basis of these recommendations and consults the cantons concerned to confirm the decision to inscribe.

Amendments to existing entries

Simple requests to amend the content of existing entries may be submitted directly to the FOC by the bearers of living traditions. The FOC is responsible for implementing the requested amendments and decides whether a request to amend the content should be submitted to the ICH Committee.

Deletion, separation or merger of entries

The deletion, separation or merger of entries on the ‘Inventory of Living Traditions in Switzerland’ may be requested at any time from the FOC by the bearers of the tradition concerned or by a canton (if there is no longer a bearer of the tradition). The ICH Committee examines the request and issues a recommendation to the FOC. The FOC makes a decision on the basis of this recommendation and consults the cantons concerned to confirm the decision.