From May 26 to 28, 2025, the ancient city of Samarkand (Uzbekistan) welcomed guests for the official inauguration ceremony marking its designation as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World. The celebration also featured the international forum “The Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Expressions of the Islamic World: Calligraphy, Music, Poetry, and Solidarity”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The opening ceremony brought together prominent figures including the Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan Ozodbek Nazarbekov, Governor (Hokim) of the Samarkand Region Adiz Boboyev, ICESCO Director-General Dr. Salim Al Malik, President of the Turkic Academy Shahin Mustafayev, as well as representatives of international organizations, cultural institutions, and the academic community from across the Islamic world.
In his remarks, President of the Turkic Academy highlighted Samarkand’s exceptional historical and cultural significance within the Turkic-Islamic world.
“Samarkand is not only the Pearl of the East but also one of the ancient capitals of Turkic civilization. For centuries, it stood as a center of science, philosophy, architecture, and art — a symbol of cultural dialogue, continuity of knowledge, and resilient identity. Its recognition as the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2025 is not only a tribute to its historic legacy but also a call to revive and celebrate our shared cultural heritage across the Islamic and Turkic worlds,” he said.
Throughout the forum, participants explored avenues to deepen cultural cooperation, promote shared historical and cultural values, and enhance humanitarian ties between nations.
The program featured exhibitions, plenary sessions, as well as musical and poetic performances, all dedicated to showcasing the rich spiritual and artistic legacy of Islamic civilization.
