In 2026, Canada will mark the 50th anniversary of signing the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, a milestone that has shaped the protection of natural and cultural heritage nationwide.
To commemorate this anniversary, the National Trust for Canada is undertaking a World Heritage Anniversary Project, funded in part by the Government of Canada.
The project will involve a series of events at World Heritage sites across the country, as well as virtual activities and resources that tell the story of Canada and the World Heritage Convention.
Join Us for World Heritage Anniversary Events Across Canada
Our World Heritage Anniversary celebrations begin on July 23, 2026, with a series of special events at three of Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. These gatherings will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Canada’s signing of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention and showcase the remarkable places that tell our shared story.
Rideau Canal
Date: July 23, 2026
Time: 2:00-5:00pm EDT
Location: Bytown Museum (1 Canal Lane)
Details: The event will feature Indigenous and Celtic music and dance performances, guided tours of the Ottawa Locks, and interactive activities, as well as opportunities to engage with World Heritage experts and connect with the history and significance of this iconic site.
Old Town Lunenburg
Date: July 25, 2026
Time: 1:00-5:00pm ADT
Location: King Street, between Lincoln and Cumberland Streets
Details: Old Town Lunenburg is marking a double milestone this July. The event coincides with the recent 30th anniversary of the town’s UNESCO World Heritage designation and will feature live performances, walking tours, and the much-anticipated reopening of the restored Heritage Bandstand.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump
Date: July 29, 2026
Time: 10:30-5:00pm MDT
Location: 18 kilometres northwest of Fort Macleod on secondary Highway #785
Details: The event will include free admission to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, drumming and dancing performances, and a range of activities that highlight the site’s World Heritage designation and importance as a living site of Indigenous culture and history. The event will also honour Elders from within the Blackfoot Confederacy who have been long-standing champions of preserving the site’s heritage.
More events, activities and resources will be announced throughout the anniversary year. Check back regularly for updates and join us in celebrating Canada’s remarkable World Heritage places.
Did you know?
There are 22 World Heritage sites across Canada recognized by UNESCO for their global importance.
Cultural Sites
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (1981)
- SGang Gwaay (1981)
- Old Town Lunenburg (1995)
- Rideau Canal (2007)
- Landscape of Grand Pré (2012)
- Tr’ondëk-Klondike (2023)
Natural Sites
- Nahanni National Park (1978)
- Dinosaur Provincial Park (1979)
- Kluane / Wrangell-St. Elias / Glacier Bay / Tatshenshini-Alsek (1979, 1992, 1994)*
- Wood Buffalo National Park (1983)
- Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks (1984, 1990)
- Gros Morne National Park (1987)
- Miguasha National Park (1999)
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs (2008)
- Mistaken Point (2016)
- Anticosti (2023)
Mixed sites
- Pimachiowin Aki (2018)
*Indicates a transboundary site that is shared with the United States of America
This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.
