The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has designated Punjab capital Lahore its Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27.
The title of Tourism and Cultural Capital rotates annually between SCO member states and serves to highlight the prominence of a city embodying the cultural heritage of the country that takes over the rotating chairmanship of the organization. It aims to promote people-to-people contacts and tourism among the member states.
Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship for 2026-27 during the 26th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Kyrgyzstan. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country would shape its chairmanship under the theme of ‘Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.’
Previously, Varanasi, India (2022-23), Almaty, Kazakhstan (2023-24), Qingdao, China (2024-25) and Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan (2025-26) have held the title. The decision to have Lahore join this list was taken in April, when the heads of tourism administrations of SCO member states met in Bishkek.