Uzbekistan’s City of Andijan Selected as the 2026 Turkic World Capital of Culture
Uzbekistan’s Andijan city, a member of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB), has been selected as the “2026 Turkic World Capital of Culture.” The city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, located on the Caspian Sea coast and holding the title of "Turkic World Capital of Culture" throughout 2025, han
Uzbekistan’s Andijan city, a member of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB), has been selected as the “2026 Turkic World Capital of Culture.”
The city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, located on the Caspian Sea coast and holding the title of "Turkic World Capital of Culture" throughout 2025, handed over this title to Uzbekistan's Andijan during the gala concert and closing ceremony held on 28 November 2025.
The concert held at Halyk Arena in Aktau, featuring approximately 250 performers, brought together thousands of art enthusiasts and many high-level officials from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and other regions of the Turkic world.
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva, stated in her speech that the city of Aktau had proudly upheld the title of "Turkic World Capital of Culture." Balayeva noted that throughout the year Aktau hosted more than 30 international events, from theater to opera, film festivals to scientific meetings, and said: “The city of Aktau has fulfilled this historic responsibility with honor and completed its duty with great success. The festivals held on the shores of the Caspian brought together hundreds of artists from seven countries and more than 100,000 spectators. This scene has shown us all how strong the bond of our common culture truly is.”
Binali Yıldırım, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), also delivered a speech at the ceremony, conveying the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and emphasizing the strategic importance of culture. Yıldırım said, “Roads, bridges, and ports are visible works, but culture determines both the roots and the horizon of a nation. That is why our cooperation in the field of culture is the strongest guarantee of the future of the Turkic world. We build bridges, but it is our youth who will cross those bridges and build tomorrow.”
TÜRKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev expressed his satisfaction with Aktau’s successful organization throughout the year. Raev stated that during this process, Aktau became a meeting point for the entire Turkic world and that they would continue to strengthen cultural diplomacy with joint projects in the coming years.
Governor of Andijan, Shuhratbek Abdurahmanov, said that they are ready to introduce the ancient history and culture of the region to the whole world in 2026, and that they are very pleased to assume this honorable role.
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