Answer in brief
The new survey seeks comparable figures for spending on cultural and natural heritage. It starts a collection cycle; it does not announce new funding or 2026 results.
A new collection cycle, not new money
On 29 September, the UNESCO Institute for Statistics launched its 2026 survey of expenditure on cultural and natural heritage. Respondents have until 28 November to complete questionnaires offered in Arabic, English, French and Spanish. UIS says the resulting indicators will appear in 2027. The announcement concerns measurement: it neither allocates a heritage budget nor reports the amount spent in 2026. That distinction matters because a country can become better at documenting a shortfall without yet repairing a museum, monument or protected landscape.
What indicator 11.4.1 actually compares
The UN Statistics Division defines Sustainable Development Goal indicator 11.4.1 as total per-person spending on preservation, protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage. It calls for splits by public or private funding, cultural or natural heritage, and national, regional or local government. This is more useful than a single large national budget number: it can reveal who pays and which places may be left out. It is still a spending measure, not a direct score for a site's condition, community access or quality of restoration.
Old data cannot fill the new questionnaire
UIS's separate 2026 data release drew on its 2025 survey and mostly refers to 2024 or the latest available reference year. It says the number of responding countries rose from 30 in the first 2020 cycle to 92 in the latest one. More responses improve coverage, yet countries can differ in accounting systems, the ability to capture private spending and the reference year they report. A chart mixing those years needs labels. The newly announced survey may broaden the evidence base, but its figures are not available at the September cutoff.
How to read the next release: The new survey seeks comparable figures for spending on…
The meaningful next checks are response coverage, which spending categories are missing, and whether changes reflect real investment or improved reporting. Per-person figures allow comparison across population sizes but do not explain the cost of conserving a particular building or ecosystem. Policymakers and communities also need site-level condition and access evidence. As of 30 September, UIS has launched the collection, specified its deadline and planned publication route through its data services and the UN database; any claim of a measured 2026 funding rise would be premature.
Questions and answers
When will the 2026 survey results be available?
UIS says the resulting indicators are due for publication in 2027, after the 28 November 2026 response deadline.
Does the survey count only public museums?
No. The UN indicator covers cultural and natural heritage, public and private funding, and national, regional and local government levels.