― 9 апреля 2026 г.

International Exhibition on “The Oghuz Phenomenon: From the Great Steppe to Anatolia” inaugurated in Istanbul

The International Exhibition on “The Oghuz Phenomenon: From the Great Steppe to Anatolia” was inaugurated  with a ceremony held at the Istanbul Museum of Turkic and Islamic Arts on  April 7th, 2026. The exhibition was organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye with the support of the Kyzylorda Regional Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the  contributions of the International Organisation of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY).

The opening ceremony was attended by Birol İnceciköz, Director General of Cultural Assets and Museums at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye; Zhanmurat Seilov, Director of the Department of Culture at the Kyzylorda Regional Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Nuriddin Amankul, Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Istanbul; and Sultan Raev, who all delivered welcoming speeches.

At the event, artists from the Kyzylorda region Malika Aldamjarova, Marat Sügirbay and Togzhan Ötenova performed examples of Kazakh folk music. Following the opening ceremony participants visited the exhibition.

“This exhibition is a vivid expression of our shared memory”

Speaking at the opening, TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stated that the exhibition was not merely an event bringing together archaeological artefacts, and added: “This exhibition is an important cultural bridge that carries the shared civilisational memory, identity and spirit of the Turkic peoples into the present day. Throughout their historical journey stretching from Turkestan to Anatolia, the Oghuz tribes carried culture, faith and state tradition to the lands they went through.”

Secretary General Raev emphasised that Oghuz culture took shape between the 9th and 11th centuries around the Aral Sea and the Syr Darya basin, and that this structure—where a nomadic way of life coexisted with settled life—represented a significant phase of Turkic civilisation.

Approximately 300 artefacts are on display

The exhibition features around 300 artefacts, including finds from excavations and research conducted in historical Oghuz cities such as Jankent and Jent, as well as items shedding light on daily life, crafts, the world of beliefs and trade. Among the exhibited artefacts, ceramics, archaeological finds and coins reflecting Silk Road trade stand out. The exhibition, which also includes elements reflecting the legacy of Korkut Ata, highlights the significance of Oghuz culture within the Turkic World.

The  International Exhibition on the “Oghuz Phenomenon: From the Great Steppe to Anatolia” will be open to visitors at the Istanbul Museum of Turkic and Islamic Arts until June 30th, 2026.