7Nov
Every year in early November; 2026: 7–8 November
Samarkand Marathon
An international charity run starting by the Registan every autumn: marathon, half marathon, 10 km and 5 km, plus children’s and inclusive races.
Samarkand
Events
The festival calendar
Navruz fairs, music and craft festivals, folk celebrations — month by month, the next ones first.
This month (October): 1 event
Next public holiday: Constitution Day — 8 December
Soon
Coming up
21Mar
Every year on 21 March and the following days
Navruz fairs
Spring fairs across the country on 21 March and the days that follow: cauldrons of sumalak, concerts, kurash, kupkari and markets.
April
Every two years, usually in April; the 2027 venue and dates have not been announced
International Festival of Bakhshi Art
A biennial festival of epic singers that moves to a new region each time: Termez 2019, Karakalpakstan 2021, Syrdarya 2023, Khiva 2025.
Surkhandarya, Karakalpakstan +2
Month by month
The year ahead
Octoberthis month
November
December
January
March
21Mar
Every year on 21 March and the following days
Navruz fairs
Spring fairs across the country on 21 March and the days that follow: cauldrons of sumalak, concerts, kurash, kupkari and markets.
March
Past23–24 March 2026 (first edition); no further date announced
Dishes of the East festival
Samarkand’s first food festival: on day one visiting chefs cooked their national dishes, on day two local cooks showcased Samarkand cuisine.
Samarkand
April
April
Every spring, in April (2026: 17–19 April); next date not yet announced
International Embroidery Festival (Samarkand)
A celebration of embroidery in Samarkand’s historic centre: suzani exhibitions, masterclasses, a souvenir fair and folk performances.
Samarkand
April
Every two years, 25–30 April (2022, 2024, 2026); next expected in 2028
Lazgi International Dance Festival
Khiva’s biennial celebration of Khorezm dance: an international competition, an academic conference, masterclasses and concerts; 2026 saw the third edition.
Khorezm
April
Every two years, usually in April; the 2027 venue and dates have not been announced
International Festival of Bakhshi Art
A biennial festival of epic singers that moves to a new region each time: Termez 2019, Karakalpakstan 2021, Syrdarya 2023, Khiva 2025.
Surkhandarya, Karakalpakstan +2
April
Past28 April – 12 May 2026
International Jazz Festival Uzbekistan
A spring international jazz festival in Tashkent: in 2026 a concert series from 28 April to 12 May.
Tashkent (city)
May
May
Every spring, in early May (2026: 1–7 May, 13th edition)
Boysun Bahori International Folklore Festival
A spring folklore festival at the foot of the Baysun mountains: folk ensembles from around the world, a yurt camp, kurash, kupkari, tightrope walkers and craftspeople.
Surkhandarya
May
Every year in May (2025: 10–11 May; 2026: 6–10 May)
Urgut International Paragliding Festival
An international paragliding festival in the Andak area of the Urgut mountains — colourful canopies and competitions every May since 2025.
Samarkand
May
Even-numbered years, in May (2026: 15–17 May); next expected in 2028
Gold Embroidery and Jewellery Festival
Bukhara’s even-year festival: exhibitions by gold embroiderers and jewellers, masterclasses, competitions, parades and concerts.
Bukhara
May
Every year, May–July (2026: 24 May – 12 July, 65th festival)
Namangan International Flower Festival
A flower festival held since 1961: the 65th edition in 2026 ran from 24 May to 12 July and set a Guinness World Record.
Namangan
May
May 2026 (exact date not announced in advance)
International Kupkari Festival (Syrdarya)
An international kupkari tournament held in spring in Syrdarya district, Syrdarya Region: hundreds of riders and thousands of spectators.
Syrdarya
June
June
Odd-numbered years, late May or early June (2025: 6–8 June); 2027 dates are announced shortly beforehand
Silk and Spices Festival
A crafts festival that, in odd-numbered years, turns Bukhara’s old town into a party: a caravan parade from the Ark to Lyab-i Hauz and a fair beneath the trading domes.
Bukhara
June
PastPeriodic; third forum 23–26 June 2026 in Andijan; next not announced
International Maqom Art Forum
An international gathering of maqom performers and musicologists: the first was held in Shahrisabz in September 2018, the third in Andijan on 23–26 June 2026.
Andijan, Kashkadarya
August
August
August (2026: 7–9 August)
Khiva Melon Festival (Qovun sayli)
A celebration of Khorezm melons: a melon fair with pavilions from every town and district, competitions, folk ensembles and concerts.
Khorezm
August
Every two years, usually in late August; the next date has not been officially announced
Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival
A UNESCO-supported festival of the world’s traditional music, held in Samarkand every two years since 1997.
Samarkand
August
Past1–3 August 2025 (first edition); no official date for the next one
Samarkand Plov International Food Festival
A plov festival first held in 2025: over 200 cooks, more than 20 styles of plov, and 7 tonnes cooked in a single cauldron at the Eternal City.
Samarkand
August
Past21–22 August 2026
Zarkent Grape Festival (Uzum sayli)
A grape-harvest fair in the village of Zarkent, Parkent district, Tashkent Region, scheduled for 21–22 August 2026.
Tashkent Region
September
3Sept
Every two years in autumn; 2027: 3 September – 21 November
Bukhara Biennial
Uzbekistan’s first major international art biennial: site-specific collaborations between global artists and local craftspeople in historic buildings; 3 September – 21 November 2027.
Bukhara
September
Every year in late summer or early autumn (2025: 24 August; 2026: 12–13 September, main race on the 13th)
Challenge Samarkand triathlon
An international triathlon in the Challenge Family series: a swim in a rowing canal, a bike leg past the Registan and a run at Silk Road Samarkand.
Samarkand
September
Every two years in September (2019, 2023, 2025: 19–21 September); next date not yet announced
Kokand International Festival of Handicrafts
A biennial September gathering of craftspeople in Kokand, with a companion International Ceramics Forum in nearby Rishtan.
Fergana
September
Second half of the year, usually September–October; dates announced annually
Tashkent International Film Festival ‘Pearl of the Silk Road’
A ‘festival of festivals’ founded in 1958 as a showcase for Asian and African cinema and revived in 2021; held in the second half of the year.
Tashkent (city)
September
Past17–19 September 2026; no official word on future editions
Margilan Atlas & Adras Festival
A three-day silk celebration in Margilan: showcases of atlas and adras, an exhibition of national dress and craft presentations.
Fergana
September
Past17–19 September 2026 (first edition)
Yonar creative festival
A creative settlement on the Barsa-Kelmes salt flat, 200 km from Nukus: large art installations, yurts and tents, and community life without commerce.
Karakalpakstan