Home Azerbaijan Society International Carpet Festival held in Baku (PHOTO) Society Materials 2 May 2026 23:27 (UTC +04:00) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 2. In the heart of ancient Baku – Icherisheher – narrow streets, stone walls and caravanserais were transformed for a few days into a living fabric woven from ornaments, traditions and contemporary art, Trend reports. The third International Carpet Festival opened here – a world-class event that brought together thousands of local residents and foreign guests.
These days, Baku is becoming more than just the world's carpet capital—it's becoming a place where the past and future are literally woven into a single canvas. Ancient caravanserais, squares, and historic houses have become venues for carpet exhibitions, master classes, and musical events. The festival's main mission is to present Azerbaijani carpet weaving to the world not as a museum exhibit, but as a living, evolving art.
Carpet weaving in Azerbaijan has long ceased to be simply a craft. It is a visual code that encodes regional patterns, family traditions, and the aesthetics of entire eras. The festival kicked off on May 1 at the Baku Business Center, where the second International Carpet Forum was held on the theme "Carpet Industry: Values, Design, and Competitiveness." It brought together leading experts, designers, manufacturers and researchers from around the world, serving as an intellectual prelude to a large-scale cultural marathon.
But the real magic unfolded in Icherisheher. From that day on, the ancient city was transformed into an open gallery: carpets adorned squares, courtyards, and even the walls of historic buildings. National pavilions have appeared in Gosha Gala Square, where artisans from various countries showcase their weaving traditions.
Various events, stands, pavilions, and master classes are held in the caravanserais and on the cobbled streets, where you can literally see how a carpet is "born." Particular interest was generated by unusual artistic solutions: for example, an improvised football field, created entirely from carpets, which was visited by Karabakh football players, causing a stir. One of the most discussed performances was the symbolic "carpet wedding," where traditions took on an almost theatrical form. These days, Icherisheher has become more than just a venue – it has transformed into a living space for carpet art, where the past and the future intertwine in a single pattern.
The festival also features exhibitions of unique carpets from various regions, weaving workshops where you can witness the process of creating a pattern, performance programs, and special educational activities for children. The event was organized by Azerkhalcha OJSC and the Icherisheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO). (function(containerId) { if (typeof window.loadAdVideoZL === 'undefined') ) .catch(reject); }); } window.loadAdVideoZL.then((initAdVideoZL) => ); })('ad-video-container-6a7d95addd467'); The festival was timed to coincide with Carpet Weaver's Day and the 10th anniversary of "Azerkhalcha". One of the festival's partners was the Karabakh Revival Foundation, which presented the project "In the Footsteps of Karabakh," implemented jointly with the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts.
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