Baku Carpet Festival Returns with an International Focus

Marking its third edition and the tenth anniversary of Azerkhalcha’s designer division, the Baku Carpet Festival brings together industry voices, regional traditions and a city-wide programme of exhibitions

The start of May will see the third annual Baku Carpet Festival and the second edition in the city with an international focus. The event also coincides with the tenth anniversary of Azerkhalcha OJSC’s designer division.

While full details are yet to be confirmed, the programme so far offers a clear sense of what’s to come. Those who attended last year’s symposium on the festival’s opening day will recall the passion and dedication evident throughout the talks.

A programme spanning craft, performance and education

For 2026, the festival opens on 1 May with the International Carpet Forum, titled Carpet Industry: Value, Design and Competitiveness. The upcoming programme of speakers is expected to continue this strong, discussion-led approach.

As with last year, the festival continues on 2–3 May in the historic streets of Icherisheher.

Visitors will encounter carpet exhibitions, masterclasses and musical events, while representatives from neighbouring countries present their weaving traditions in national pavilions in Gosha Gala Square.

A meeting point for regional weaving traditions

The event celebrates not only Azerbaijan’s many weavers, but also the wider heritage and production of neighbouring regions, welcoming participants and visitors from across the globe.

A full programme of exhibitions dedicated to the art of carpet weaving, alongside masterclasses, concerts and educational activities for children, will be announced shortly.

Words by Lucy Upward