I've been reviewing the longlist for 2027, which now comprises an unusually high number of 49 candidates (and there are some additional ones in winterkjm's list above). The list gets so long because of (a) a systematic way of adding and (b) pushing ahead unlucky candidates year by year. So I did a check when the last "event" was for the site in the Bubbling Under list and when the last news item was found about a nomination.

Proposed for removal are:
- Port of Banbhore (T): Pakistan: incomplete for 2023, last news in 2022. Not a country that does well in the nomination process.
- The Ancient Waterfront Towns in the South of Yangtze River (T): China: no events, last news 2020. It is somewhere on China's radar but other sites seem to get preference.
- Brazilian Fortresses Ensemble (T): Brazil: incomplete for 2022, no news since.
- Eglise catholique d'Ambodifotatra de Sainte Marie (T): Madagascar: asked for preparatory assistance in 2023, no news since 2022
- City of Granada and its natural environment (T): Nicaragua: preliminary assessment in 2023, but no news that they are actively working towards an inscription
- Extension of Danube Limes (Croatia, Bulgaria, Serbia): no activity since 2022
- Gebel Qatrani Area, Lake Qaroun Nature Reserve (T): Egypt: incomplete dossier in 2019, latest news in 2022
- The Historical Port City of Izmir (T): Turkiye. Latest news in 2022. Other Turkish sites seem to be preferred.
- Levadas of Madeira Island (T): Portugal: it was withdrawn after a negative advice in 2024, they need to rethink it all. May appear again in the future but 2027 seems too early.
- Mayon Volcano Cultural Landscape (T): Philippines: was incomplete this year, needs rethinking / reformulation, 2027 seems too early
- The Padang Civic Ensemble (T): Singapore: preliminary assessment in 2023, no real news since, doubts what the impact would be on the city
- Parc national de Zakouma (T): Chad: incomplete 2021, no news since

Some others from the 2023 Preliminary Assesment have little or no news data, but I left them in as they are in countries where news comes out rarely (Parc national des Iles Ehotilé (T): Côte d'Ivoire, Santa Bárbara mining complex (T): Peru, Alok Ikom Stone Monoliths (T): Nigeria, Historical Relics in Pyongyang (T): Korea (DPR), Reef System in the Cuban Caribbean (T): Cuba)

Proposed to add are, looking at winterkjm's list:
- Orchha (India) -> no, I think this will be 2028 (preliminary assessment 2024)
- Koytendag (Turkmenistan) -> seems to have reappeared on the radar but seems in a very early stage, 2027 too early?
- Zomin Mountains -> incomplete this year, we have it in the list for 2028 as well but they did not take the preliminary route. Move to 2027?.
- European Paper Mills -> we have them for 2029, as they seem to take the preliminary route later this year
- Beech forests extension -> LOL no news update since 2022?

elsslots
I would also remove Birkenhead Park. In September last year the local council - which is struggling financially - approved necessary improvements in preparation for a bid only if this could be funded from external sources. If external funding was not available the council agreed to revisit the bid's funding request in '2025/6'. I went to the Park visitor centre a few weeks ago and they couldn't / wouldn't give me an update on progress.

There's an idea circulating to pair the nomination with Central Park, which has just submitted its preliminary assessment and is now looking at 2028.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/new-yorks-central-park-could-29971751

Kultepe is Turkey's candidate for 2027
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19r1b2u53d/?mibextid=wwXIfr

For 2027, I will add Eastern Mongolian Steppes - they got a Refer during the past session and are actively supported to continue with the nomination. As there seems to be quite some work to do, for now, choosing 2027 as an estimate above 2026.

Chiang Mai

Just got confirm from local ICOMOS that the nomination dossier is finally completed and will submit to UNESCO within this September :D

Hikone Castle - Postpone!!

Many local media reports that as a result of the preliminary evaluation by ICOMOS in October last year, even though Hikone Castle may meet the evaluation criteria for World Heritage Sites, but there is a lack of explanation of how to operate the daimyo governance system in the Edo period, and the daimyo governance system can be fully represented with just Hikone only. So the government decided to postpone the recommendation for Hikone Castle and give more time to the nomination team to solve this problem.

https://www.kankokeizai.com/2509090830kks/

Malta has submitted an application to UNESCO to include Valletta's historic fortifications, along with the Cottonera Lines, Santa Margherita Lines, Mdina, and the Cittadella in Gozo, on the World Heritage List under the name "The Maltese Fortifications of the Knights of St John."
https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-submit-unesco-application-add-fortification-world-heritage-list.1116514

The scope seems much wider than this TWHS https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/982/

This is not for 2027 - if you submit a preliminary assessment in 2025, the outcome at best may be in 2029 (see timelines)

Daures / Brandberg / Omukuruvaro National Monument (Namibia)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DPbbC_mj3bn/

"This development was announced by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, during a recent Cabinet briefing.
Theofelus explained that the nomination could pave the way for the Daures / Brandberg / Omukuruvaro National Monument Area to become Namibia's third World Heritage Site—alongside the Namib Sand Sea and Twyfelfontein. The submission to UNESCO is scheduled for 1 February 2026."

Venn's Town (Seychelles)

Reports on Facebook and Seychelles Nation Newspaper

https://www.nation.sc/articles/27989/-national-effort-drives-venns-town-world-heritage-nomination

Official : Chiang Mai for 2027

The nomination will submit to UNESCO in early January next year.

https://www.matichon.co.th/local/news_5507549

The Workers' Assembly Halls are also ready for the Feb 1 2026 deadline, to be listed in 2027.
However, it seems they have lost (another) participant: I don't see Argentina anymore. Only Australia, Belgium and Denmark signed the nomination dossier.

See their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235650211682186

UPDATE: Argentina's withdrawal has now been confirmed, they may try to join at a later stage as an extension

In the past days, we have seen activity on the Tentative Lists, 2 weeks before the 1 feb deadline, regarding Extensions.

They may be up for 2027 too:
1. Galapagos Islands (extension)
2. Beech Forests extension (France, Serbia, Montenegro)