Festivals in Uzbekistan are bright theatrical shows of historical events and national holidays. They demonstrate Uzbek culture and traditions, preserved from the past and carefully passed from generation to generation. During the festivals there are arranged lot of cheerful street festivities and bazaars, where you can buy interesting souvenirs made by local craftsmen. Here you will find live performances with folk songs, interesting shows of puppeteers and rope-walkers, as well as demonstration of ancient customs, and tasting of the most famous Uzbek dishes.
Schedule of festivals and other events planned to take place in regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan during the tourist low season (March, June, August, November) in 2012,
to increase the flow of foreign tourists and extend the tourist season
|
№ |
Name of event |
Dates |
Months of Tourist low seasons |
Venues |
Responsible authorities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
National Festivities to celebrate Navruz - Feast of the Renewal of Nature |
March 15-23 |
March |
Tashkent, Andijan, Namangan, Ferghana, Gulistan, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Karshi, Termez, Bukhara, Navoi, Urgench, Nukus |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional administrations |
|
2. |
Exhibition of young potters of the regions |
March 15-30 |
March |
Jizzakh |
Jizzakh Regional Administration |
|
3. |
Festival of traditional folk songs, competitions for national sports |
March 15-30 |
March |
Kizilkir Square of Farish Region |
Jizzakh Regional and Farish Regional Administration |
|
4. |
"Kuhna Zamin Ohanglari" (Melodies of the native land) Folklore Festival |
March 15-30 |
March |
Shakhrisabz district |
Kashkadarya Regional and Shakhrisabz Regional Administration |
|
5. |
Equestrian National Competitions (Kupkari, Ulok) to celebrate Navruz |
March 15-30 |
March |
Kashkadarya Region, in districts of Navoi Region (Nurata, Kyzyltepa, Khatirchi) |
Kashkadarya Regional Administration, Navoi Regional and Nurata, Kyzyltepa, Khatirchi district administration |
|
6. |
Festival of national food and sumalak - Navruz traditional dish |
March 15-30 |
March |
Navoi Region |
Navoi RegionalAdministration |
|
7. |
Regional festival of folk crafts and folk art |
March 15-30 |
March |
Samarkand |
Regional Scientific and Methodological Centre, “Hunarmand” Association |
|
8. |
"Halk Rasqlari" (Folk Dancings) Festival
|
March 15-30 |
March |
Khiva region |
Khorezm Regional Administration Regional Department of Culture and Sports Affairs |
|
9. |
Exhibition of silk products made by "Avrband" masters, as well as works of carpet weaving, embossing, woodcarving masters |
March 15-30 |
March |
Sayid Akhmad Eshon Madrasah in Margilan, Akhmad al Fargoniy Complex in Kuva |
Fergana Regional Administration, Margilan and Kuva city administrations |
|
10. |
Exhibition of silk articles made by "Yodgorlik" masters |
March 15-30 |
March |
Margilan |
Fergana Regional Administration, Margilan city administration |
|
11. |
Exihibition of Young Craftsmen of Uzbekistan devoted to Navruz holiday |
March 21 |
March |
Tashkent |
Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation |
|
12. |
Kiz Kuvar competition devoted to Navruz celebration (the feast of nature rejuvenation) |
March 24 |
March |
Ferghana |
Federation of Uloq (Kupkari) |
|
13. |
10th Exhibition-fair "Bazar-art - 2012. Spring" |
March 27 |
March |
Tashkent |
Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation |
|
14. |
Celebration of Navruz |
March 28 |
March |
Nukus |
Museum of Art named after Savitsky |
|
15. |
The festival of national traditions (pilaf, rituals, sport and public ulok) |
April 8 (from 8 am to 5 pm) |
April |
Pskent, Pskent race track |
Regional Administration, Uzbekistan Federation of Ulok-Kupkari game |
|
16. |
Fine Arts Week |
April 21-25 |
April |
Tashkent |
Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, Creative Association of Artists of Uzbekistan, Fund Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan |
|
17. |
Festival of Traditional Culture "Asrlar Sadosi 2012" |
May 5-6 |
May |
Karakalpakstan |
Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation |
|
18. |
Spring Holiday in Samarkand Region |
May 24-25 |
May |
Samarkand region |
Samarkand Regional Administration |
|
19. |
Festival of the national cuisine of Karakalpaks |
May 16 |
May |
Nukus |
Museum of Art named after Savitsky |
|
20. |
“Kirk Kiz” (40 girls) Women Sports Cup Competitions |
June |
June |
Nukus |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan |
|
21. |
Festival of Silk, dedicated to raising silk cocoons
|
June 2-3
|
June |
Buston town, Ellik Kala district (can be changed and held in Beruniy, Turtkul, Hojaliy, Amudarya districts) |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan |
|
22. |
"Nafosat Bustonim manim" Contest of songs |
June 15-17, 2013, every two years |
June |
Ellik Kala district |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan |
|
23. |
Festival of Silk and Spices |
First decade of June, every two years |
June |
Bukhara |
Bukhara Regional Administration |
|
24. |
“Palov Sayli” (Uzbek plov traditions)Event |
Second decade of June |
June |
Bukhara |
Bukhara Regional Administration |
|
25. |
The regional round of “Lapar” and “Ulan” traditional festival of singers |
June 22 |
June |
Karshi Recreation Park |
Kashkadarya Regional Administration |
|
26. |
Festival of Fruits and Vegetables |
June
|
June |
Navoi Region |
Navoi Regional Administration, Navoi Region Department of Culture and Sports Affairs |
|
27. |
"Ibn Sina" Festival, showing herbal medicines and historical and non-traditional methods of treatment |
June 15-30 |
June |
Namangan |
Namangan Regional Administration |
|
28. |
“Yagonasan, Mukaddas Vatan!" (You are the one and only - Holy Motherland) The Republican contest of pop and academic performers " |
June 15-30 |
June |
Samarkand |
Region Department of Culture and Sports Affairs, Uzbeknavo Association |
|
29. |
Kurash (national wrestling) Competition |
June 15-30 |
June |
Surkhandarya region |
Termez city and Surkhandarya Regional administration |
|
30. |
"Milly kadriyatlar millat kuzgusi" (National Wealth) Festival of folk and ethnographic ensembles |
First decade of June |
June |
To be specified |
Tashkent regional Administration |
|
31. |
"Chimgan Echo" Ecotourism Festival in mountains |
June 8-10 |
June |
Chimgan |
Tashkent regional Administration |
|
32. |
“Kadimiy Khorazm Madaniyati” (Culture of aincient Horezm) Festival |
Second decade of June |
June |
Khiva region |
Khorezm Regional Administration Region Department of Culture and Sports Affairs, |
|
33. |
Personal exhibition of a famous ceramist Rustam Usmanov |
June 15-30
|
June
|
Ferghana Region Local History Museum and Museum Workshop in Rishtan |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
34. |
Personal exhibition of a famous ceramist of Alisher Nazarov |
June 15-30
|
June
|
Ferghana Region Local History Museum and Museum Workshop in Rishtan |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
35. |
Exhibition of national Uzbek skull-caps, made by young craftsmen and teachers of Margilan Handicraft college. |
June 15-30
|
June
|
Ferghana Region Local History Museum |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
36. |
Personal exhibition of a famous ceramist Rustam Usmanov |
August 1-15 |
August |
Ferghana Region Local History Museum and Museum Workshop in Rishtan |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
37. |
Personal exhibition of a famous ceramist of Alisher Nazarov |
August 1-15 |
August |
Ferghana Region Local History Museum and Museum Workshop in Rishtan |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
38. |
Exhibition of national Uzbek skull-caps, made by young craftsmen and teachers of Margilan Handicraft college. |
August 1-15 |
August |
Ferghana Region Local History Museum |
Ferghana Regional Administration |
|
39. |
“Usta Makan” Festival of Crafts with the participation of artisans and designers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, including the national costume competition "Karakalpak milliy er ham-Khayal kyzlar kiyimleri" |
Second half of August |
August |
Nukus |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Ministry of of Culture and Sports Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Karakalpakstan Tourism Agency, “Onerment” Association, Nukus city administration |
|
40. |
Festival "National music of Karakalpakistan" |
August 8 |
August |
Nukus |
Museum of Art named after Savitsky |
|
41. |
Folk Festival of zhirau (deep-throat singing), backs, contest of aitys on an annual basis |
August |
August |
Nukus, Amudaria district, «Shilpik» |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Ministry of of Culture and Sports Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Karakalpakstan Tourism Agency, Nukus city and Ellik Kala region administration |
|
42. |
“Kovun Sayli” (Melon Festival) |
August 1-15 |
August |
Bukhara |
Bukhara Regional Adminisration |
|
43. |
"Andijon obod va kurkam viloyatga aylantiraylik" Traditional Festival of Andijan |
August 1-15 |
August |
Andijan Region |
Andijan Regional Administration |
|
44. |
“Ulan Aytgani keldik” Tradtional Festivities of folk songs |
August 1-15 |
August |
Jizzakh |
Jizzakh Regional Administration |
|
45. |
“Shanba Okshomlari” (Saturday Evenings) Concert performances
|
August 1-15 |
August |
Main Stage of Mustakillik Square, Jizzakh |
Jizzakh Regional Administration |
|
46. |
Theatrical exhibition of artifacts dating back to Tamerlane period, concert of folk ensembles |
August 1-15 |
August |
Ok Saroy Square, Shakhrisabz |
Kashkadarya Regional administration and Shakhrisabz city administration |
|
47. |
Theatrical performances and concerts in the summer recreation areas |
August 1-15 |
August |
Kashkadarya Region |
Kashkadarya Regional administration |
|
48. |
“Nurata Culture” and “Sarmysh Civilization” Folk Festivals |
August 1-15 |
August |
Nurata Region |
Navoi Regional and Nurata Regional Administration |
|
49. |
Festival of Melons |
August 1-15 |
August |
Navoi Region |
Navoi Regional Administration |
|
50. |
Festival of Flowers |
August 25-26
|
August |
Namangan |
Navoi Regional and Namangan City administration |
|
51. |
The Republican contest for the "Nihol" State Award. Gala concert of winners |
August 1-15 |
August |
Samarkand |
Regional Department of Culture and Sports Affairs, “Uzbeknavo” Association |
|
52. |
“Sanat Sehri” (Secrets of Art) Gala-concert of artistic teams |
First decade of August |
August |
To be specified |
Tashkent Regional Administration |
|
53. |
National festivities to celebrate the Independence Day |
August 25 – September 3 |
August |
Tashkent, Andijan, Namangan, Ferghana, Gulistan, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Karshi, Termez, Bukhara, Navoi, Urgench, Nukus |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional administrations |
|
54. |
Melon Festival |
August 10 |
August |
Syrdarya Region |
Syrdarya Regional Administration |
|
55. |
Kurash (Uzbek wrestling) Competitions |
November 1-15 |
November |
Surkhandarya Region |
Surkhandarya Regional and Termez city administration |
|
56. |
Equestrian competitions |
November 15-30 |
November |
Nukus |
The Council of the Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Ministry of of Culture and Sports Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Karakalpakstan Tourism Agency |
|
57. |
Athletics Competitions (Marathon) |
November 1-15 |
November |
To be specified |
Namangan Regional Administration |
|
58. |
Harvest Festival |
November 15 |
November |
Syrdarya Region |
Syrdarya Regional Administration |
|
59. |
"Amaliy Sanat durdonalari" (Pearls of the national applied art) exhibition of craft works |
Third decade of November |
November |
To be specified |
Tashkent Regional Administration |
|
60. |
"Honey Festival" Fair |
November 1-15 |
November |
Ferghana |
Ferghana city and regional administration |
|
61. |
“Kugirchoklar” (Toys) Festival |
November 1-15 |
November |
Khiva Region |
Khorezm Regional Department, Regional Department of Culture and Sports Affairs |

