Turkistan to be Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2027, with a Yassawi forum and a gathering of Turkic museum specialists planned

By decision of ICESCO, the Kazakh city of Turkistan will be the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World in 2027. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced it on X on October 30, calling it the sacred city of Turkistan.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan will use the year to host large international events aimed at preserving spiritual unity and the continuity of Turkic civilization. They include an international forum on literature and linguistics named after Khoja Ahmed Yassawi, and a meeting of museum professionals from the Turkic and Islamic worlds.

The announcement came as the 13th summit of the Organization of Turkic States was being held in Ankara. Tokayev added that work continues on the Center of Turkic Civilization he proposed there, and on a Mangilik El Center meant to promote steppe civilization. Turkistan is home to the mausoleum of Yassawi.