Ankara hosts 2nd International Turkic World Festival

The 2nd International Turkic World Festival was held in Ankara’s Kecioren district under the auspices of the local municipality, Report informs.

The three-day event concluded with a vibrant closing ceremony in the Kalaba (Victory) City Square in front of the municipal building.

In addition to representatives from Turkic states and communities, the festival brought together diplomats, ambassadors, political party members, parliamentarians, intellectuals, civil society representatives, Kecioren residents, and numerous guests from around the world.

The program featured traditional folk dances and music from across the Turkic world, celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the Turkic peoples.

Azerbaijan was represented by the Embassy in Türkiye and its affiliated Cultural Center, including a 20-member delegation from the “Shusha” music group.

In his speech, Kecioren Mayor Mesut Ozarslan paid tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives combating wildfires in Türkiye. He emphasized that the festival was not only a joyful event but also a celebration of the unity, shared traditions, and vibrant heritage of the Turkic nations.

“Our Great Leader Ataturk’s torch of independence, first lit in Anatolia, continues to illuminate our path in Kecioren. As the Turkic nation, our struggle is to uphold humanity. Today, our dear brothers and sisters from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Crimea’s Nogais, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus carry the spirit of unity inherited from our ancestors into the future,” he said.

An Azerbaijan-themed stand was also featured among the cultural displays in Victory Square, highlighting the country's heritage as part of the broader Turkic identity.