The third Nasimi Festival of Poetry, Art, and Spirituality kicked off on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The festival is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO). The festival aims to promote dialogue between cultures and generations, build bridges between traditional and modern experiences, and highlight the legacy of the famous Azerbaijani poet and thinker Imadaddin Nasimi.

The festival opened with an international forum under the theme “In Search of Eternal Truth,” which was attended by Mr. Adil Gabil Karimli, Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, and Mr. Isa Habibbayli, President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Also in attendance were Mr. Rafael Baba Huseynov, Director of the National Museum of Literature, and a host of experts and specialists in poetry, art, and culture from 13 countries.

During the forum’s opening session, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, stressed in a recorded speech that Imadaddin Nasimi’s poetry, composed in Azeri, Persian, and Arabic, demonstrated that civilizations rise when poetry, philosophy, and spiritual values go hand in hand, praising Nasimi’s intellectual and poetic journey and his rich legacy that placed him among the immortals.

Dr. AlMalik added that, once again, our world is seeking peace. Nasimi took this call upon himself by working to overcome divisions, promote knowledge, and support freedom of expression. In conclusion, he noted that immortalizing the name of the Azerbaijani poet renews faith in the universal human values that unite nations.

The three-day festival, which will take place in Baku and Shamakhi (Nasimi’s birthplace), will feature discussions and academic sessions on Nasimi’s legacy, as well as literary and artistic evenings and theatrical and musical performances. A select group of artists, poets, and intellectuals will participate.