Baku: From October 30 to November 1, 2026, Baku will host the second edition of Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW, a three-day cultural event that transforms the city's iconic sites into a stage for contemporary art, cultural heritage, music, education, and immersive experiences. The festival is organized under the leadership of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and IDEA Public Union, conceived by Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of IDEA Public Union.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the central theme of Art Weekend 2026 is the natural heritage of the Caucasus and Azerbaijan's Big Five: the gazelle, Caucasian leopard, brown bear, grey wolf, and imperial eagle. These species serve as key symbolic elements, fostering reflection on nature, cultural memory, mythology, identity, and responsibility to future generations. This theme is inspired by IDEA Public Union's Big Five of the Caucasus initiative.
The event will see Baku itself become part of the artistic experience, inviting audiences to view the city from a new perspective through art. Participants will move between museums, historic sites, architectural landmarks, galleries, and creative spaces across the city.
Over the three days, various iconic venues such as the Heydar Aliyev Center, Stone Chronicle Museum, Icherisheher, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Seaside National Park, and the National Art Museum will host a program that includes visual art, performance, music, poetry, and immersive technologies. Projects by Azerbaijani and international artists will be featured, with highlights including Aidan Salakhova's exhibition on memory and mythology, Michelangelo Pistoletto's Mirror of Eternity, Judy Chicago's What if Women Ruled the World, and Zhang Ji's Infinite Texture.
An international steel sculpture symposium, Baku Steel Art 2026: The Big Five, will be a key component, bringing together artists to create works inspired by the Caucasus wildlife. Other projects will involve artists and collectives such as Faig Ahmed, Farid Rasulov, Elvin Nabizadeh, and DanceAbility Azerbaijan.
The inaugural Art Weekend in 2025 established Baku as a cultural platform, attracting nearly 10,000 guests and recording over 29,500 visits. Art Weekend 2026 aims to build on this momentum, reinforcing Baku's standing as an international hub for art and culture. Registration for the event will be available via the festival app and official website.