Registan Evening Show

A square that comes alive at night

After sunset the Registan becomes a different place. The portals of the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori madrasas turn into a vast screen for light, ornament and images, and music fills the square. The projections fall on buildings raised over three centuries: the Ulugh Beg Madrasa in 1417–1420, Sher-Dor in 1619–1636 and Tilya-Kori in 1646–1660. The ensemble's management calls it a “light-and-sound panorama”, and in recent years a 3D laser show has been added. A colourful light-and-music show was staged here, for example, in May 2017 for delegates to an international cultural heritage congress.

When to go

Timings change with the season. In November 2024 the management announced that the winter evening panorama would run from 7 to 7.30 pm. From 21 November 2025 the light-and-sound panorama and 3D laser show were suspended while the equipment was repaired. As of September 2026 a music show is held on Registan Square every day at 9 pm, and in season the ensemble itself stays open until midnight. Check the announcements on the official site, registon.uz, before you go.

The city's great stage

The Registan is Samarkand's foremost open-air stage. Since 1997 it has hosted the biennial Sharq Taronalari international music festival. On 1 November 2025, as part of the cultural programme of the 43rd UNESCO General Conference, the French composer Jean-Michel Jarre performed here, turning the three madrasas into a gigantic canvas of light and lasers. On 6 September 2026 the pianist Lang Lang played on the square with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan.

Samarkand after dark

The show is part of the city's “24/7 tourism” push. As of September 2026 the Afrasiyab Museum, the Amir Temur Mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym complex and the Ulugh Beg Observatory stay open until 11 pm and the Siab Bazaar until midnight, while some twenty eateries on Orzu Mahmudov Street serve around the clock — handy for dinner after the show.