- A SMALL CITY WITH GLOBAL REACH
Llíria
in the
UNESCO
network
When Llíria was recognized as a Creative City of Music on October 31, 2019, the capital of the Camp de Túria region assumed more than just a title: it took on the responsibility of representing Valencian and Spanish music before the world's most important cultural organization, and the mission to actively cooperate with more than 350 cities across five continents. What it has achieved with that responsibility since then deserves to be told.
A debut
that did not go unnoticed
Llíria joined the UNESCO Network as one of the smallest cities by population among its more than 300 members. However, size did not determine its impact. In a very short time, it earned the respect and admiration of large metropolises from all continents, proving that the authenticity and depth of a tradition are worth more than a city's square footage.
Its first major international appearance was at the II National Meeting of UNESCO Creative Cities, held at the Forum Evolución in Burgos, where Llíria presented itself to the institutional world with a clear proposal: wind band music as a model for social cohesion and community development.
Since joining, Llíria has maintained significant international activity:
Daegu Global Forum 2025 (South Korea)
In October 2025, Llíria participated in the Global Forum held in Daegu, a UNESCO City of Music, within the framework of the International Workshop on Creative Cities. This presence reinforces Llíria's role as a European benchmark for wind band music.
Granada
Collaboration with Granada, Creative City of Literature (2025) — In November 2025, the Llíria City of Music Orchestra performed the concert "Que yo no tengo la culpa" at the Church of the Sangre, in collaboration with Granada Creative City of Literature. A project that demonstrated how music and literature can engage in dialogue within history's most beautiful spaces.
Agreement with the Consell 2025
The Llíria City Council signed a new agreement with the Consell to boost the international promotion of Llíria as a Creative City of Music, utilizing new tools for global projection.
- COVID-19 PANDEMIC
A world in lockdown and a town with
music
The most emotional and recognized moment of Llíria's international trajectory came during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the entire world was in lockdown, Llíria did what it does best: music.
The "Windows of Music and Hope" initiative invited professional and amateur musicians from Llíria to perform a simultaneous concert from their balconies, with the music of Beethoven as the common thread. The image of an entire city sounding in unison from its windows traveled the world and reached UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
The institution's response was immediate. In September of that year, the Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, specifically cited Llíria in her opening speech at the III Creative Cities Meeting, held in Beijing.
The initiative reached a visibility of nearly 5 million people worldwide through official UNESCO channels.
"We have seen the resilience and solidarity of our network in action in Llíria, Spain, a UNESCO Creative City of Music, which invited its professional and amateur musicians to offer a concert from their balconies and served as an example for other cities."
Audrey Azoulay (Director-General of UNESCO)
- THE AWAKENING OF THE ARTS
Llíria, Bogotá, and Leiria together
As soon as the lockdown ended, Llíria took the lead again. In June 2020, it organized "The Awakening of the Arts," a multi-artistic streaming show produced in collaboration with Bogotá (Colombia) and Leiria (Portugal), two other Creative Cities of Music in the UNESCO Network.
The event took place in front of the Church of the Sangre in Llíria and was a tribute to all the victims of the pandemic and a message of hope for the world. It was organized by the Llíria City Council with the support of Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and the Institut Valencià de Cultura.
UNESCO Creative City of Music
Llíria City of Music
· Institutional and Cultural Portal
· Llíria City Council
