― 4 апреля 2025 г.

Grand Opening Excitement in Aktau, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025

Grand Opening Excitement in Aktau, Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025
 

Kazakhstan's Aktau city, which has been declared the ‘Capital of Culture of the Turkic World’ for 2025 by TURKSOY, starts the official celebrations with a grand opening ceremony to be held on  April 5th, 2025. This special event, where thousands of art lovers will meet on the shores of the Caspian Sea, will reflect the rich culture of the Turkic World with concerts, dance performances, exhibitions and stage performances and will witness unforgettable moments.
 

Meeting of Culture, Art and Brotherhood on the Coast of the  Caspian Sea
 

The city of Aktau in Kazakhstan  city, which has been declared as ‘Cultural Capital of  the Turkic World’ for 2025 by TURKSOY, starts  official celebrations with a grand opening ceremony to be held on April 5th, 2025. This special event, where thousands of art lovers will meet on the shores of the Caspian Sea, will feature unforgettable moments in concerts, dance shows, exhibitions and stage performances reflecting the rich culture of the Turkic World.
 

1400 artists came together in Aktau
 

The opening ceremony, which will be held with the participation of approximately 1400 artists from all over the Turkic World, will come to life in the dormitories and open-air stages set up on a large area. The programme, which will start with a cortege march with the participation of artists from TURKSOY member countries, will offer an unforgettable feast to thousands of art lovers meeting in Aktau with its rich content ranging from music to folk dances, traditional art workshops to ethnocultural presentations. The opening programme, which will be broadcast live by Kazakhstan National Television and TRT Avaz, will start with a cortege march along the Caspian Sea at 8.30 Kazakhstan time.
 

TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev: ‘Aktau is the Pride of the Turkic World’
 

Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Raev told media members before the opening ceremony that Aktau is a source of pride not only for Kazakhstan but also for the entire Turkic World. ‘Aktau is a city worthy of this title with its historical depth, pioneering names and cultural richness. With the ceremony to be held tomorrow, our journey of the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, which will reveal the cultural and artistic richness of the Turkic World, will start from the Caspian coast.’
 

Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf: ‘Aktau is home to thousands of years of Turkic history of the Mangestau region’
 

TURKSOY Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf drew attention to the importance of the Mangestau region for the Turkic World and said:
 

‘This region is an important transit route especially in the migration journey of Oghuz Turks to Anatolia. Although Aktau may seem like a small city today, thanks to the opportunities offered by the Caspian Sea and its strategic location, it has a great potential to introduce the common values of the Turkic World to the world. TURKSOY has been successfully implementing the Capital of Culture of the Turkic World project since 2012 in order to strengthen cultural cooperation and make the common heritage visible. Aktau was awarded this meaningful title by the unanimous vote of our ministers at the meeting held in Ashgabat.
 

The opening is just the beginning. Dozens of cultural events will be organised in these lands throughout the year. These events will not only strengthen the ties within the Turkic World, but also introduce our cultural heritage and common values to the international community more effectively. In each dormitory established within the scope of the opening ceremony, the works of handicraft masters from our founding countries are exhibited. In some of the dormitories, we share our common stories and keep our traditions alive with live performances. Aktau people have embraced all our artists with great hospitality since the first day. Everyone is waiting for the grand opening with excitement. We see here what we see in Taurus Mountains, Ashgabat and Tashkent. Tracing the history of our ancestors in these lands and speaking the same cultural language reminds us again that we are members of a great nation. I once again congratulate all those who contributed.’
 

Events will continue in Aktau throughout the year
 

Within the scope of the events that will start immediately after the opening ceremony, nearly 30 large-scale international events will be organised in Aktau throughout 2025. This rich calendar, ranging from traditional music concerts to theatre and cinema festivals, from youth gatherings to opinion and culture forums, aims to bring to light the cultural diversity of the Turkic World and pass it on to future generations.
 

Ministers of Culture of the Turkic World at the Opening
 

The grand opening ceremony in Aktau will gather artists and high-level state representatives. This ceremony, which will be attended by the ministers of culture of TURKSOY member countries, strongly reflects the will of the Turkic World to preserve its common cultural heritage. Within the scope of the ceremony,  ministers and their accompanying delegations  will visit Aktau and hold bilateral meetings.
 

Common Identity Strengthened by Cultural Capitals
 

The initiative launched by TURKSOY in  2012 to declare one city of the Turkic World as its Cultural Capital every year  has been increasing cultural and artistic interaction between cities, while maintaining its function as a platform that glorifies common values. To date, 12 cities have been awarded this title and have become the cultural showcase of the Turkic World.
 

Within the scope of the programme, Astana, Eskişehir, Kazan, Merv, Sheki, Turkistan, Kastamonu, Osh, Khiva, Bursa, Shusha and Anev were awarded this prestigious title which is now held by  Aktau, the pearl of the Caspian Sea. Each city contributed to the cultural map of the Turkic World, enrichening its   common identity  with its own  cultural chracteristics. The opening ceremony to be organised this year will be remembered with many firsts in its content.
 

Within the scope of the events; drone shows, performances by world-famous artists of Kazakhstan such as Dimash Kudaybergen, Meyirbek Atabekov, Roza Zergerli, the ‘Yalla’ Ensemble and Kalifarniya, as well as spectacular performances by dance ensembles from all over the Turkic World are waiting for art lovers.