AGP Executive Report

Delphic Games: Turkmen violinist Seyran Atanyazov won silver for the second time at the CIS Youth Delphic Games in Dushanbe. Students from the Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory also traded music and sheet music with peers from across the region. Avaza Arts: A concert by CIS culture and arts workers featured an award for a Russian documentary on the Akhal-Teke horse and the crowning of Uzbekistan’s winner of the “Tatar kyzy – 2026” competition. The gathering highlighted music, film and cultural exchange during the regional summit.

Delphic Games: Turkmen violinist Seyran Atanyazov won silver at the CIS Youth Delphic Games in Dushanbe for the second time. The gathering also brought young musicians together to share repertoire and discover each other’s traditions. Avaza Culture: A concert by CIS artists accompanied the leaders’ summit, alongside awards for a film about the Akhal-Teke horse and the “Tatar kyzy–2026” competition. Screen Arts: A separate briefing in Avaza highlighted Turkmenistan’s television and film work, with media representatives discussing professional exchanges and joint projects with regional partners.

Screen Arts: Turkmen media workers highlighted television and film achievements at an Avaza press briefing, pointing to exchanges with foreign partners and participation in international projects. Avaza Performances: A CIS artists’ concert featured an award for Russian director Robert Frantsev’s film on the Akhal-Teke horse and the crowning of Uzbekistan’s A. Mahmudova at the “Tatar kyzy–2026” competition. Cultural Memory: A stage performance in Turkmenistan paid tribute to victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake.

Screen and Stage: At Avaza, a briefing highlighted Turkmenistan’s television and film work, including exchanges with foreign media partners. A CIS arts concert featured performers from member states, and Russian director Robert Frantsev received an award for his film on the Akhal-Teke horse. Living Heritage: A CIS festival in Turkmenbashi showcased national crafts, cuisine and music, with pavilions featuring carpet weaving, ceramics and wood carving. Theatre: A performance dedicated to victims of the Ashgabat earthquake brought remembrance to the stage.

CIS Arts in Avaza: A concert celebrating culture from Commonwealth countries brought performers together on the Caspian coast. A Russian filmmaker received an award for a documentary about the Akhal-Teke horse, while Uzbekistan’s representative won the “Tatar kyzy-2026” pageant. Film and Television: A media briefing in Avaza highlighted Turkmenistan’s television and film work, including exchanges and joint projects with regional partners. Living Heritage: A CIS festival showcased national cuisine, crafts, costumes and music, turning the summit’s cultural programme into a showcase for the region’s traditions.

Screen and Television: A media briefing in Avaza highlighted Turkmenistan’s television and film work and growing exchanges with regional partners. CIS Arts: A concert brought together culture and arts workers from CIS countries, alongside an award for Russian director Robert Frantsev’s film about the Akhal-Teke horse. Living Heritage: Avaza’s cultural festival showcased regional music, crafts, costumes and cuisine, turning the summit program into a showcase for the traditions of participating countries.

CIS Arts on Stage: Avaza hosted a concert by culture and arts workers from CIS countries, attended by Turkmenistan’s president and visiting leaders. Russian director Robert Frantsev received an award for his film about the Akhal-Teke horse, while Uzbekistan’s A. Mahmudova won the “Tatar Kyzy–2026” competition. Film and Television: A media briefing in Avaza highlighted this year’s achievements in Turkmen television and cinema, along with growing professional exchanges and joint projects with regional partners. Culture and Craft: A CIS festival in Turkmenbashi brought together national cuisine, music and folk arts. Azerbaijan’s pavilion featured carpet weaving, ceramics and mugham performances, while other displays showcased regional traditions and crafts.

CIS Arts: A concert in Avaza brought together performers from Commonwealth countries, alongside awards for a film about the Akhal-Teke horse and the “Tatar kyzy 2026” contest. Film and Television: A media briefing in Avaza highlighted Turkmenistan’s television and cinema achievements and growing professional exchanges with regional partners. Cultural Exchange: The CIS national dishes festival paired food, music and traditional crafts, offering a showcase for the region’s shared heritage. Local Stage: A play honoring victims of the Ashgabat earthquake brought remembrance to the stage. Turkmen Sport: The national team finished the Asian Games with two silver medals, won in karate and weightlifting.

Avaza’s Cultural Showcase: A CIS food festival brought together dishes, national costumes and musical performances from eight countries. Azerbaijan’s pavilion featured carpet weaving, ceramics, wood carving and mugham music. Regional Cultural Ties: At the Avaza summit, Kazakhstan’s president called for stronger youth exchanges and more dialogue among creative communities, alongside continued exhibitions and film festivals. Turkmen Sport: The national team finished the Asian Games with two silver medals, won by karateka Davut Nazmyradov and weightlifter Shahzadbek Matyakubov. On Stage: Ashgabat’s Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre presented Halk hakydasy, a play about the 1948 earthquake that recently won the Grand Prix at a national theatre festival.

Ethno-Fashion: Designers from across the Turkic world, including Turkmenistan, are taking part in Ankara’s TURKSOY Women and Ethno-Fashion Week. Four Kyrgyz designers presented collections inspired by national dress and traditional patterns. CIS Cultural Programme: Armenia has set aside more than $105,000 for a summit gala in Turkmenistan, where CIS ensembles will present music, dance, folk art and national cuisine. Theatre: Ashgabat’s Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre staged “Halk hakydasy,” a prize-winning play about the 1948 earthquake, ahead of Remembrance Day. Music: The Turkmen National Conservatory marked International Music Day with a concert spanning folk music, Turkmen compositions and European classics. Coming Up: European Culture Days are planned for November, including a November 20 performance by Italian jazz singer Simona De Rosa at Ashgabat’s Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre.

CIS Culture: At a meeting in Avaza on October 7, CIS foreign ministers discussed the “Commonwealth” film festival, bringing cinema into a week of regional talks. Theatre: Ashgabat’s Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre staged Halk hakydasy for the 78th anniversary of the 1948 earthquake. The award-winning play recalls the disaster through the story of a women’s student dormitory. Coming Up: European Culture Days in November will feature Italian jazz singer Simona De Rosa at Ashgabat’s Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre. Music and Museums: The Turkmen National Conservatory marked International Music Day with a programme pairing dutar and Turkmen compositions with European classics. Capital museums have also opened exhibitions on ancestral memory and artist Hojamuhammet Churiyev. Regional Cinema: Azerbaijan’s new co-production funding round names Turkmenistan among its priority partners, with support planned for films on shared history, traditions and cultural figures.

Regional Fashion: Turkmenistan is among the countries represented at Turkic World fashion events in Türkiye from October 7 to 11, featuring Azerbaijani designer Gulnara Khalilova’s collections of traditional dress and ornament. Theatre: Ahead of Remembrance Day, Ashgabat’s Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre staged “Halk hakydasy,” a play about the 1948 earthquake that recently won the top prize at a national theatre festival. Music: The Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory marked International Music Day with a concert blending Turkmen folk and classical works with pieces by European composers. Coming Up: European Culture Days are planned for November, including a November 20 performance in Ashgabat by Italian jazz singer Simona De Rosa. Exhibitions: Ashgabat museums are showing art dedicated to older generations and earthquake remembrance, alongside a solo exhibition marking artist Hojamuhammet Churiyev’s 60th anniversary.

Cultural remembrance: Ashgabat marked the 78th anniversary of the 1948 earthquake with a new staging of the drama “Halk hakydasy” at the Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre, a production praised for its documentary-style recreation of the tragedy and its impact on students and families. Arts & heritage: The capital’s museums and theatres opened a remembrance-and-older-persons programme, including exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts and the State Cultural Centre, plus a weekend lineup featuring “Halk hakydasy” and other plays. Music scene: At the Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory, an International Music Day concert highlighted the dutar and performances by leading Turkmen vocalists and European classics alongside works by local composers. Sports spotlight: Turkmenistan added to its Asian Games momentum as weightlifter Shahzadbek Matyakubov won silver in the 110kg category in Nagoya, while Turkmen judokas prepared for the World Championships in Baku. Regional arts diplomacy: The EU Delegation in Turkmenistan announced European Culture Days for November 2026, featuring Italian jazz singer Simona De Rosa at Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre. International stage: Avaza on the Caspian coast is set to host major CIS and Central Asia–Azerbaijan meetings from Oct 7–9, with culture listed among the agenda themes.

Ashgabat Earthquake Commemoration: On the 78th anniversary of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, the Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre staged “Halk hakydasy,” a Grand Prix-winning play honoring victims through documentary-style staging of the tragedy’s impact on students and families. Arkadaş City Update: National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inspected the second phase of Arkadag ahead of Remembrance Day, including the Arkadag ruhy metjidi mosque, a sadaqah hall, and plans for schools, healthcare, and sports—pushing modern, “smart city” design. Avaza Diplomacy & Culture: Avaza on the Caspian coast prepares for Oct 7–9 talks bringing together CIS, Central Asia–Azerbaijan, and Caspian environmental discussions—covering transport, trade, water, healthcare, women’s participation, media, and culture. European Culture Days: The EU Delegation in Turkmenistan announced European Culture Days for Nov 20, 2026 at the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre, featuring Italian jazz singer Simona De Rosa. Music Day Concert: International Music Day was marked at the Maya Kuliyeva Conservatory with a chamber ensemble concert starting with dutar, featuring Turkmen and European composers and invited older-persons audiences. Sports Spotlight: Turkmenistan added medals at the Asian Games—weightlifter Shahzadbek Matyakubov won silver in 110kg, while Turkmen judokas head to the World Championships in Baku.

Cultural Remembrance: Ashgabat marked the 78th anniversary of the 1948 earthquake with stage tributes at the Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre, including the Grand Prix-winning play “Halk hakydasy,” bringing eyewitness accounts to the spotlight. City & Heritage: Ahead of Remembrance Day, National Leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov inspected the second phase of Arkadag City, from the Arkadag ruhy metjidi mosque and its Islamic design details to plans for schools, a medical cluster, and sports facilities. Arts Calendar: Museums and theatres in the capital opened new exhibitions and weekend performances tied to older persons’ remembrance and earthquake memory, with “Halk hakydasy” among the featured plays. Music & Performance: The Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory hosted an International Music Day concert, starting with the dutar and mixing Turkmen works with European classics. Sports & National Pride: Turkmenistan’s Shahzadbek Matyakubov won silver in the 110kg weightlifting at the Asian Games, while Turkmen judokas began competing at the World Championships in Baku. Regional Spotlight: Avaza prepares for a dense diplomacy run (CIS, Central Asia–Azerbaijan, and Caspian environmental talks), with culture and media also on the agenda.

Regional Diplomacy: Central Asia and Azerbaijan are set to meet at Turkmenistan’s Avaza for the first formal consultative summit, with leaders already signing a declaration on transport, energy, trade and security. Sports & National Pride: Turkmenistan’s athletes keep stacking medals—554 in the first nine months of 2026—and the World Judo Championships begin in Baku with a Turkmen team of four. Asian Games Spotlight: Turkmen weightlifter Shahzadbek Matyakubov won silver in the 110kg category at Nagoya, while Turkmen judo at the Games remains in focus after a Turkmen opponent was involved in a high-profile weigh-in dispute. Culture Calendar: Ashgabat will host European Culture Days in November 2026, featuring Italian jazz performer Simona De Rosa at Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theatre. Arts & Community: The Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory marks International Music Day with a concert spanning Turkmen and European composers, and Ashgabat museums open new exhibitions tied to older persons and the 1948 earthquake. Fashion & Film Links: Turkmenistan’s cultural reach also shows up abroad, from international fashion-week showcases to cinema co-production funding that includes Turkmenistan among priority countries.