Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye’s first UNESCO City of Literature, and Hatay, designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2017, gathered in Hatay on October 10, 2026, for the second phase of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Tandem Project. Initiated by the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality, the project aims to foster cross-disciplinary synergy, encouraging member cities to draw inspiration from each other’s specialized fields to generate shared cultural value.
The meeting brought together delegations from both municipalities around a “literary table” (edebi sofra), where the culinary heritage of both regions intersected with deep discussions on literature, storytelling, and local culture. The gathering highlighted how literature and gastronomy can serve as complementary avenues for urban cultural identity and inter-city dialogue.
The Kahramanmaraş delegation included Burhan Sakallı, authors Mustafa Köneçoğlu and Yaşar Bayraktar, alongside gastronomy coordinators Mürüvet Nazlı and Sibel Topçu Dedeoğlu. Representing Hatay were art historian Osman Zafer Yavuz, chef Süleyman Demirel, and Seren Güllü, Media Director of the Gastronomy Houses.
Established by UNESCO in 2004, the Creative Cities Network spans seven creative fields—Literature, Gastronomy, Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Music, and Media Arts—seeking to place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of sustainable local development. Bringing together over 180 cities across 72 countries, the network strengthens international cooperation and cultural diversity. As the second installment of the Tandem Project, this collaboration between Kahramanmaraş and Hatay demonstrates the power of inter-city partnerships in enriching regional heritage within a global framework.
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