Baku, October 15, 2025 – The Europe Today: From October 31 to November 2, the Azerbaijani capital will transform into a vibrant hub of creativity as it hosts Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW — a large-scale international festival uniting art, culture, and ecology.
Organized under the auspices of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and IDEA Public Union, the three-day event is inspired and initiated by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Founder of IDEA. Describing the vision behind the festival, Aliyeva said:
“Fly to Baku. Sense the NOW is a call to listen, to see, to feel, and to imagine. It is a bridge — connecting memory with imagination, heritage with innovation, and hearts with hope.”
The central theme of the festival explores water as a symbol of life, renewal, and sustainability, while using art to highlight the ecological challenges facing the world’s oceans and seas.
Opening Events
The festival will officially open on October 31 at the Heydar Aliyev Center with two landmark exhibitions:
- “My Seas, My Oceans”, a joint initiative by the United Nations and IDEA, featuring works by leading local and international artists that emphasize ecological responsibility and sustainability;
- An exhibition by Fernando Botero, the renowned Colombian modern artist and sculptor.
The opening ceremony will also include an immersive performance by the “Dance Ability” group, presented by Nigar Sultanova, celebrating inclusivity through collective dance involving participants with and without disabilities. The evening will conclude with a concert by American singer Cheryl “Pepsii” Riley and the Interplay Jazz Group, blending R&B and jazz improvisation in a powerful musical experience.
Citywide Program
Throughout the three-day festival, some of Baku’s most iconic venues — including the Heydar Aliyev Center, Museum of Stone Chronicles, Icherisheher, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Seaside National Park, National Museum of Art, and several contemporary galleries — will host over forty multidisciplinary events spanning visual art, performance, music, poetry, and immersive technologies.
The festival will celebrate Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage alongside the dynamic energy of its contemporary art scene, featuring exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and community initiatives.
Highlights of the Program
- “The Last Wave”, a special exhibition by Elvin Nabizade at the Stone Chronicle Museum;
- “The Pistachio Tree: Roots of Memory”, a multidisciplinary project blending literature, craftsmanship, and ecology at the Magsud Ibrahimbayov Creative Centre;
- A two-day literary event led by Nigar Hasanzade, founder and director of the multidisciplinary art center SÖZ;
- A children’s creative program curated by Firuza Sultanzade, offering art workshops for ages 3 to 14;
- A presentation of works by participants of the upcoming “Baku Steel Art 2025” festival.
In addition to exhibitions and performances, Art Weekend will feature lectures, guided tours, environmental seminars, and studio visits, fostering dialogue and collaboration across disciplines. Some exhibitions will open as early as October 29.
The festival’s official website will soon be launched, featuring the complete schedule and program details. For inquiries and proposals, organizers can be reached at info@bakuartweekend.az, and updates will be shared via Instagram (@bakuartweekend).
“Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW” is envisioned as more than a cultural festival — it is a bridge between past and future, local and global, tradition and innovation, inviting the world to experience the creative pulse of Azerbaijan in its most expressive form.
