BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 21. From September 18 to 20, 2026, Baku hosted the First Congress (Kurultai) of Composers of the Turkic World, bringing together leading composers, musicologists, performers and heads of music institutions from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hungary.
The principal outcome of the historic gathering was the establishment of the Turkic Union of Composers (TUC), a new international professional platform formalized through the signing of the Baku Declaration. The union is intended to promote continuous cooperation among national schools of composition, conservatories, music academies, creative unions and performing ensembles across the Turkic world.
The Baku Declaration sets out several areas for future cooperation, including international music projects, the creation of new musical works, festivals, competitions and composer residencies. Plans also include publishing an Anthology of Contemporary Music of the Turkic World and establishing a digital library of musical scores.
Among the major long-term initiatives is the proposed Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Turkic World. The orchestra is expected to unite talented young musicians and introduce contemporary Turkic music to audiences at international concert venues.
Organizers expect the Kurultai to become a regular event held on a rotating basis. Following Baku, future gatherings are planned for Almaty, Bishkek, Istanbul, Tashkent, Ashgabat and Budapest, allowing the initiative launched in Azerbaijan to develop into a sustainable international platform.
The Baku congress included founding and plenary sessions, professional discussions, thematic exhibitions and concerts featuring symphonic, chamber and traditional music. Works by prominent and contemporary composers from across the Turkic world were performed by leading ensembles and soloists.
The First Congress was organized within the framework of the 18th Uzeyir Hajibeyli International Music Festival and was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the First Baku Turkological Congress, the 885th anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi and the 585th anniversary of Alisher Navoi.
Professor Aktoty Raimkulova, President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, said that holding the first Kurultai and establishing the TUC in Baku carried profound symbolic significance, noting Azerbaijan's established school of composition and rich musical traditions.
The project was implemented by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation in partnership with the ICESCO Regional Office in Baku, the Union of Composers of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan National Conservatory.
Although the inaugural congress has concluded, the newly established TUC is intended to continue its work by transforming the shared musical heritage of Turkic peoples into new creative projects, professional cooperation and broader cultural dialogue.
