UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Meetings offer a unique occasion to strengthen the ties between cities from around the world and serves as a platform to define the strategic objectives of an expanded and well-balanced Network.

The main objectives of this event are to:

● Exchange updated information on activities carried out by cities intended to implement the objectives of the Network both at the local and international level and formulate new inter-city partnership initiatives;

● ​ Determine the Network’s strategy and operations, and agree upon important matters related to future developments, including the priorities of the Network for the coming year;

● ​ Offer a key platform of dialogue between the Creative Cities and UNESCO, regarding the Organization’s priorities on culture and development and other issues of mutual interests.

The Annual Meeting is held once a year (except in case of force majeure) by one of the Creative Cities. All member cities of the Network are advised to take part in these meetings.

Previous Annual Meetings have been held in Paris (France, UNESCO HQ) in 2008, Santa Fe (United States of America) in 2008, Lyon (France) in 2009, Shenzhen (People’s republic of China) in 2010, Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 2011, Montréal (Canada) in 2012, Bologna (Italy) in 2013, Chengdu (People’s republic of China) in 2014, Kanazawa (Japan) in 2015, Östersund (Sweden) in 2016, Enghien-les-Bains (France) in 2017, Krakow and Katowice (Poland) in 2018.

As a member city of UCCN, Busan City of Film has been actively participating in the Annual Meeting after its designation in 2014.​