PHNOM PENH— A senior official from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has confirmed that the outcome of the country’s nomination of Maha Sangkranta for UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list is expected in 2027 or 2028.

Siyonn Sophearith, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry, stated that Cambodia officially submitted the nomination to UNESCO—the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—by the March 31, 2025 deadline.

He noted that the submission is currently under review and that UNESCO may request additional documentation before August.

“We submitted two intangible cultural nominations for consideration: Khmer traditional marriage, which may be reviewed within this year, while Maha Sangkranta is likely to be considered in 2027 or 2028,” he said.

Cambodia has submitted a nomination to UNESCO to recognize the traditional Khmer wedding ceremony as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural significance of Khmer matrimonial traditions.

UNESCO evaluates up to 60 nomination files from member states each year, and the evaluation process can take two or more years to complete.

Sophearith added that UNESCO gives preference to multinational nominations and to countries submitting for the first time.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Culture remains committed to collaborating with UNESCO and relevant stakeholders to ensure all required documentation is provided ahead of the final review.

On February 14, Cambodia officially began compiling documentation for the Maha Sangkranta nomination.

Maha Sangkranta marks the ceremonial and symbolic beginning of the Khmer New Year and holds deep cultural and religious significance.

Although Maha Sangkranta is uniquely Cambodian, similar New Year festivities are celebrated in neighboring Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. UNESCO recognition, Sophearith said, could help promote dialogue and mutual understanding among these cultures.

The modern term “sangkranta” is derived from the Indian Sanskrit word “sankranti,” which denotes a recurring time cycle throughout the year that marks the changing of the seasons.