ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Iraqi Tourism Board is set to nominate seven villages for the UN’s Best Tourism Villages for 2026, with Hawraman's Biyara having already reserved a spot.

The board’s spokesperson Ali Yassin told Iraq’s state newspaper that Iraq “will submit seven comprehensive files for evaluation by UNWTO [United Nations World Tourism Organization] experts, according to criteria that include service quality, environmental conservation, promotion of green tourism, and the involvement of local communities.”

He added that the nominated villages are located in southern and central Iraq as well as the Kurdistan Region, adding that Biyara and Dhi Qar’s Abu Subat are among the most prominent selections, while “the selection of the remaining villages is still underway.”

The villages are set to compete in the UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages, a program established in 2021 that has thus far seen more than 1,000 applicants from over 100 countries. The network currently brings together 319 rural destinations, according to its website.

Biyara is a village in Halabja’s Hawraman region. Nestled along the Iraq-Iran border, the village offers a beautiful resort and breathtaking scenery and nature, particularly in the spring season. Biyara also houses a religious shrine, Khanaqa, that was built over 135 years ago and adds to the destination’s rich culture and heritage.

Lying some 90 kilometers east of Dhi Qar, Abu Subat is located in the heart of Iraq’s marshlands. The Iraqi wetlands, which once served as the world’s first urban centers, are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Applications for the program will close on June 9, 2026, while the recognized villages will be announced in the third quarter of the year during an event, according to UN Tourism. The award aims to support desinations that “demonstrate excellence in preserving cultural and natural heritage, strengthening community-based values and advancing sustainability.”

Applications will be assessed by an Independent Advisory Board based on sustainability, governance, natural heritage, infrastructure, as well as community wellbeing.