Lahore in Pakistan was declared the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27 at the 26th SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Bishkek. The annually rotating title, introduced in 2022, promotes tourism, people-to-people links and cultural heritage. Earlier holders were Varanasi (India), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Qingdao (China) and Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan). Pakistan holds the 2026 SCO presidency with the theme "Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity". Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Beijing, the SCO marks its 25th anniversary in 2026.