Namangan city                                                                                    June 23–26, 2026

            On June 23–26, the “III International Maqam Art Forum” will be held in the city of Namangan, Namangan region, under the auspices of UNESCO and ICESCO. This is the third time the forum is being held in Uzbekistan. More than 230 representatives from 83 foreign countries and international organizations are expected to participate.

 

            Among them, Dr. Salim Muhammad Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO); Nosir Hamad Hinzab, Chair of the UNESCO Executive Board; Kubanichbek Omuraliev, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Turkic States; Sultanboy Rayev, Secretary-General of the International Organization of Turkic Culture – TURKSOY; and Aktoti Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, will attend as honorary guests of the forum.

 

            The visit of Binali Yildirim, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey and Chair of the Council of Elders of the Organisation of Turkic States, is also expected.

 

            The following are planned to participate in the forum: Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Serdar Cham, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey; Matluba Sattoriyon, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Deputy Minister Faridun Bobozoda; Salkin Sarnogoyeva, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic; and Aibek Sidikov, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

            In addition, Ndoro Vebber Murungveni, Director of the Centre for Islamic World Cultural Heritage under ICESCO; Bektur Bazakechov, Deputy Secretary-General of TURKPA; Chokmen Chichek, Governor of Kayseri Province of the Republic of Turkey; Ayhan Tuğlu, Director of the National Library of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Turkey; Sheikh El-Mami Ahmad Bazaid, founder of the “Assalam” Association for the Protection of Cultural and Maritime Heritage in Morocco; Khalmurad Rashidov, representative of the Commonwealth of Independent States; Dyusen Kaseinov, former Minister of Culture of Kazakhstan and former Secretary-General of TURKSOY; and Li Chi Vu, President of the Miryang Foundation of the Republic of Korea, will also join the forum.

 

            The forum will also feature renowned artists, musicologists, and scholars from various countries around the world.

 

            In particular, Ma'sum Ibrahimov, People’s Artist of Azerbaijan and world-renowned mugham performer; Denis Mete, a distinguished Austrian musicologist and Director of the “Maqamkhana” cultural society; Sohib Pashazoda, Director of the Azerbaijan International Maqam Centre and Merited Artist; and Margaret Desheno, founder and Director of the International Institute of World Music based in France, will take part as distinguished participants of the forum.

 

            Furthermore, Abdulkarim Falih, Cultural Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Kuwait and a prominent global influencer; Amer Ja'far, Adviser to the Director of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre in Kuwait; and Kazim Hadjimejlich, Professor at the University of Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a noted Orientalist scholar, will participate in the forum’s events.

 

            The forum programme includes a grand opening ceremony, an international competition, a scientific-practical conference, masterclasses, cultural events, and excursions to the notable landmarks of Namangan region.

 

            June 23 — a press conference for local and foreign media regarding the “III International Maqam Art Forum,” and the grand opening ceremony of the “III International Maqam Art Forum” in the city of Namangan;

 

            June 24 — an international conference on “New Trends in Eastern Maqam: The Relationship Between Tradition and Innovation” within the framework of the “III International Maqam Art Forum”; the Intercultural Dialogue Forum of SCO Member States; and the international competition among representatives of participating countries;

 

            June 25 — a republican scientific-practical conference for young scholars on “Traditions of Eastern Maqam Art and Youth: Heritage, Education, and Future Prospects”; an international conference on “New Trends in Eastern Maqam: The Relationship Between Tradition and Innovation”; a briefing for local and foreign media; the international competition among representatives of participating countries; and performances by foreign creative ensembles in the concert programme of the International Flower Festival at Babur Culture and Recreation Park in Namangan;

 

            June 26 — the grand awards and closing ceremony of the “III International Maqam Art Forum.”

 

            Winners of the competition held within the framework of the “III International Maqam Art Forum” will be awarded diplomas, statuettes, and cash prizes by the Organizing Committee in the following amounts:

“Grand Prix” — USD 15,000;

 

1st place — in the following nominations:

            – solo performer (vocalist or instrumentalist) — USD 10,000,

            – ensemble — USD 10,000

 

2nd place — in the following nominations:

            – solo performer (vocalist or instrumentalist) — USD 7,000,

            – ensemble — USD 7,000

 

3rd place — in the following nominations:

            – solo performer (vocalist or instrumentalist) — USD 5,000,

            – ensemble — USD 5,000

 

            In addition, to support and encourage active performers, participants will be recognized with commemorative gifts and awards in such nominations as “Best Maqam Singer,” “Best Maqam Instrumentalist,” “Best Maqam Master,” “Best Maqam Promoter,” “Best Young Maqam Performer,” and “Best Maqam Composer.” Each participant of the forum will receive a “Participant of the International Maqam Art Forum” certificate.

 

            A competition will be held among participants attending the “III International Maqam Art Forum,” with performances evaluated by an international jury. (For reference, the jury of the international competition includes judges from Azerbaijan, France, Turkey, Serbia, Kuwait, Canada, and Uzbekistan.)

 

            Representatives of 18 countries are expected to compete in the international competition of the “III International Maqam Art Forum.”

 

            Among them: the celebrated “Mugham” ensemble from Azerbaijan; the “Humarian Press Kit” group from Pakistan; the Babur Osh State Academic Musical Theatre from Kyrgyzstan; Moumita Mitra and Sayak Barua from India; the “Druk Luyang” ensemble from the Netherlands; the National Maqam Ensemble of Tajikistan; the “Qagan” ethno-folk ensemble from Kazakhstan; Asude Chelebioğlu and Ismail Haqqi from Turkey; the “Sheikh Hamed Davood” ensemble from Syria; the “Ialoni” traditional women’s music ensemble from Georgia; the “Miryang” music ensemble from South Korea; the “Shimono Ayumi no Kai KSPS Japan” ensemble from Japan; the classical folk music trio from Turkmenistan; and from Uzbekistan: the national instrumentalists ensemble of the Uzbekistan State Symphony Orchestra, the “Maqom Band” instrumentalists ensemble, the master’s vocalists ensemble of the Yunus Rajaby Institute of Uzbek National Musical Arts, the “Dilnavoz” maqam ensemble, the Young Maqam Performers ensemble (Nafisa Farmonova, Maftuna Saidova, Sunnatilla Yunusov, Quvonchbek Do’stmurodov, Sukhrob Madraimov, Inoyat Bozorov, Mirshod Quvondiqov, Asqar Temirov, Sirojiddin Omonov, and Bayram Yakubov), Nodirbek Begali o‘g‘li Mamasodiqov (tanbur), and the “Meros” Instrumentalists Ensemble named after Turgʻun Alimatov.

 

            In the solo performer category, the following will also participate: Munire Vusiman from China (Uyghur); Mariam Hovnanyan from Armenia; Maleki Jahandar from Iran; Tserendavaa Tsogtgerel from Mongolia; Nuraddin Taghiyev and Teymur Jabrayilov from Azerbaijan; and singer Orif Ergashev from Uzbekistan.

 

            Furthermore, pavilions have been set up in the “New Uzbekistan” Park in Namangan to showcase the unique culture and art of 14 regions of our country. During the “III International Maqam Art Forum,” the regional pavilions will host an international music fair, various exhibitions related to maqam art — including national instruments and costumes, handicrafts, fine and applied arts, sculptures, feature and documentary films, audio and video discs, books, and photographs. The “III International Maqam Art Forum” is being organized with the aim of broadly promoting the unique examples of Uzbek national maqam art, preserving and developing it, fostering respect and appreciation for our classical national art among the younger generation, strengthening bonds of friendship and brotherhood among different peoples, and expanding the scope of creative cooperation and cultural-spiritual relations at the international level.

 

            For reference: the “I International Maqam Art Forum” was held on September 6–10, 2018, at the historic centre of Shahrisabz. It brought together solo vocalists, folk ensembles, and diplomatic corps representatives from 75 countries around the world.

 

            The “II International Maqam Art Forum” was held on June 27–30, 2024, in the Zomin district of Jizzax region, with more than 400 participants from nearly 80 countries.

For additional information: +998915889085