Baku:The 'Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW' festival is set to return to the Azerbaijani capital from October 30 to November 1, 2026. This event, occurring for the second time, will feature a variety of contemporary art projects from both international and Azerbaijani artists across multiple venues in the city.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the festival is organized under the guidance of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and IDEA Public Union. It aims to unite diverse artistic practices, generations, and geographies, engaging audiences with themes such as memory, cultural heritage, nature, biodiversity, identity, and the future. Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of IDEA Public Union, initiated the festival concept.
A key theme of the exhibition program is the 'Big Five of the Caucasus,' with projects highlighting the nature and biodiversity of the region. These projects depict animals as integral to the natural world and as carriers of cultural memory and mythology.
One highlight of the festival is a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Zhang Ji, hosted at the Heydar Aliyev Center. His 'The Skin of Truth' series explores religious architecture through contemporary painting techniques, using meticulous processes to create visually complex patterns.
Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto will present 'Mirror of Eternity,' another significant international project, also at the Heydar Aliyev Center. This work continues Pistoletto's exploration of the mirror as a concept, integrating artificial intelligence to create evolving digital portraits.
American artist Judy Chicago will debut 'What If Women Ruled the World' in Baku. This interactive project invites participants to contribute to a global archive, imagining alternative futures rooted in empathy and collaboration.
The festival will also feature Azerbaijani art, including the immersive exhibition 'When Nature Speaks. Heirs' by Leyla Aliyeva at the Heydar Aliyev Center. This project explores human-nature relationships through various art forms and themes.
Additionally, the 'Legendary Creatures - An Azerbaijani Bestiary' project by the 'Var Yox' platform will highlight mythological creatures from Azerbaijani folklore, connecting them with the region's 'Big Five.'
Other exhibitions include 'Maiden Tower' by Aidan Salakhova at the Azerbaijan National Museum of Art, 'Beyond Memory' by Faig Ahmed and Farid Rasulov at QGallery, and 'Shimmering Symbols' by the Atesh Hub platform at the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Each exhibition offers unique insights into cultural memory and artistic innovation.
Further attractions include Elnara Nasirli's 'Isolated Realities' at Fluxus Space, Rashid Al Khalifa's 'Crate Maze - White' at Baku Khans' Garden, and several other group exhibitions and works by Azerbaijani and international artists. These projects collectively emphasize the rich tapestry of contemporary art in Baku.