The ceremony took place on April 5, 2025, in Aktau, which was officially designated as the Turkic World Capital of Culture for 2025.
2025 Aktau Turkic World Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony, 5 April 2025 - Organization of Turkic States Official Website
Organization
The International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) declared Aktau, Kazakhstan, as the “Turkic World Capital of Culture” for the year 2025. This title is awarded within the framework of the Turkic World Capital of Culture program, which has been ongoing since 2012. Previous cities that have held this title include Astana, Eskişehir, Kazan, Merv, Shaki, Turkistan, Kastamonu, Osh, Khiva, Bursa, Shusha, and Anew.
Date and Venue
The opening ceremony was held on April 5, 2025, in Aktau, Kazakhstan. The event took place in an open-air venue on the shore of the Caspian Sea and began in the morning with a ceremonial parade. The program started at 08:30 local time and was broadcast live by Kazakhstan State Television and TRT Avaz.
Participants
The ceremony was attended by Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TÜRKSOY; Sayit Yusuf, Deputy Secretary General of TÜRKSOY; Merey Mukazhan, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS); Aida Balayeva, Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan; Serdar Çam, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of Türkiye; Mirbek Mambetaliyev, Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan; Murad Huseynov, Deputy Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan; Nursahet Shirimov, Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan; and Peter Hoppal, State Commissioner of the Government of Hungary.
2025 Aktau Turkic World Capital of Culture Opening Ceremony, 5 April 2025 - Organization of Turkic States Official Website
Cultural and Artistic Activities
The opening ceremony featured the participation of approximately 1,400 artists from various Turkic countries. The event included concerts, folk dances, traditional art workshops, stage performances, and cultural presentations. It began with a parade of the participating artists, followed by on-stage performances. Kazakhstani artists Dimash Qudaibergen, Meirbek Atabekov, Roza Zergerli, the band Yalla, and Kalifarniya performed during the event.
Darhan Dala Ethno-Village
Among the accompanying installations was the “Darhan Dala” ethno-village, composed of yurts built in traditional Kazakh architectural style. Visitors were introduced to the lifestyles, handicrafts, and historical heritage of Kazakhstan and other Turkic communities.
Statements
TÜRKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stated that Aktau was deemed worthy of the title due to its cultural and historical significance. Deputy Secretary General Sayit Yusuf highlighted that the Mangystau region is located on the migration route of the Oghuz Turks to Anatolia. At the ceremony, Minister Aida Balayeva read a message from President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, emphasizing that the Mangystau and Ustyurt regions are integral parts of Turkic civilization.
Planned Events Schedule
Following the opening ceremony, around 30 international events are scheduled to take place in Aktau throughout 2025. These include traditional music concerts, theater and film festivals, youth gatherings, and cultural forums. The events aim to showcase the cultural diversity of the Turkic world across various fields and ensure the transmission of cultural heritage to future generations.
