PRESIDENT OF THE TURKIC CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOUNDATION PARTICIPATED IN THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE "ANDIJAN – CULTURAL CAPITAL OF THE TURKIC WORLD 2026"

On June 24, 2026, the official opening ceremony of the "Andijan – Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2026" was held in the city of Andijan, Republic of Uzbekistan. Professor Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, took part in the event, which was dedicated to promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Turkic World, its shared values, and cultural cooperation among brotherly nations.

The ceremony took place at the Babur Garden Amphitheatre, specially constructed to commemorate Andijan's designation as the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World. The opening ceremony featured vibrant musical and dance performances presented by nearly 300 artists representing the Turkic states. The ceremony also marked the official launch of numerous cultural projects, festivals, exhibitions, and creative programmes to be held throughout the year.

Another event of global significance took place within the framework of the celebrations. The Uzbek folk dance "Andijan Polka" was officially entered into the Guinness World Records as the world's largest performance of a national folk dance. The performance, staged simultaneously by 20,000 participants at Babur Arena in Andijan, was officially recognized as a new world record. An official adjudicator from Guinness World Records attended the event in person, confirmed that the record attempt had fully complied with all established requirements, and formally announced its official registration. This remarkable achievement represents an important milestone in promoting Uzbekistan's rich intangible cultural heritage on the international stage and in showcasing the cultural values of the Turkic peoples.

The Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation will continue to support initiatives aimed at preserving, studying, and promoting the common cultural heritage of the Turkic World at the international level, while further contributing to the expansion of cultural cooperation among the Foundation's Member and Observer States.