Kazakhstan Nominates Turkistan as Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for 2027

On the sidelines of his participation in the Regional Environmental Summit held in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Aida Balayeva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, at the Astana Opera House.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed prospects for strengthening cooperation between ICESCO and Kazakhstan in culture, heritage preservation, and capacity building. Ms. Balayeva commended the cooperation between the two sides, stressing that it is based on tangible achievements and a fruitful partnership. She also praised ICESCO’s high-quality programs and initiatives implemented over the past five years, particularly those related to the inscription and safeguarding of heritage sites in the Islamic world, as well as youth empowerment and capacity-building initiatives.

In this context, Ms. Balayeva announced the official nomination of Turkistan for the 2027 Capital of Culture in the Islamic World, with the support of His Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, alongside Kazakhstan’s candidacy to host the upcoming meeting of the Islamic World Heritage Committee (IWHC) in the city. She further underscored the importance of protecting heritage sites, especially those that are threatened or damaged in the Islamic world.

For his part, Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s principled support for this nomination, in accordance with the approved procedures and regulations, reiterating the Organization’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Kazakhstan across areas of mutual interest.

Moreover, Dr. AlMalik expressed his gratitude to the Republic of Kazakhstan for its forthcoming hosting of the IWHC meeting next year, highlighting the importance of this step in supporting efforts to safeguard and promote heritage in the Member States. In this regard, he emphasized the importance of preparing and submitting nomination files for a number of heritage sites and elements in Kazakhstan, in line with ICESCO’s approved criteria and forms, in preparation for their inscription on the List of Heritage in the Islamic World and their discussion during the IWHC’s next session.

The two sides also discussed several proposed initiatives and activities, including the organization of international festivals dedicated to Turkish and Islamic decorative arts, bringing together artists from across the Islamic world, as well as the organization of training programs and workshops in the field of cultural heritage preservation and specialized programs for building the capacities of experts with the support of ICESCO.

The two parties agreed to establish a joint committee to examine the programs and activities to be included in Turkistan’s celebration as Capital of Culture in the Islamic World, to initiate the preparation of a formal cooperation agreement and an executive action plan, and to study the possibility of holding the 2027 Conference of Ministers of Culture in the Islamic World in Turkistan.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik extended an invitation to Ms. Balayeva to visit ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat and sign a joint cooperation agreement.