Baku: From October 28 to November 8, 2026, the capital of Azerbaijan will once again transform into the epicenter of the global art world, welcoming the Baku International Arts Festival, APA reports. This large-scale, multi-genre festival, held annually since 2025, will bring together key figures of the contemporary international scene, including artists, choreographers, dancers, musicians, acclaimed performers, and directors.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the festival's theatrical program will open with the acclaimed production of The Seagull, directed by Lev Dodin and based on the play by Anton Chekhov. This recent premiere by the Maly Drama Theatre - Theatre of Europe (St. Petersburg, Russia), honored with the prestigious Golden Sofit and Golden Mask awards, will be performed on October 29 and 30 on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre. The director has been associated with Chekhov's dramaturgical legacy for many years, and this performance is a non-trivial, deep reading of the classics, where Chekhov's reflections on art and life are woven into the fabric of the play.
Immediately following The Seagull, the festival audience will experience another fresh interpretation of world literary classics on the very same stage. On November 1 and 2, the famous Gesher Theatre (Tel Aviv, Israel) will present a new production by Dmitry Krymov, one of the most influential directors of his generation. Krymov's theatre thrives on the laws of imagination and play - a dangerous, wonderfully absurd kind of play that remains deeply grounded in reality.
Equally compelling will be the productions presented on the stage of the Azerbaijan State Academic National Drama Theatre. On November 5 and 6, world-renowned choreographer Shahar Binyamini will combine two of his significant works - New Earth and Bolero X - into a single evening. New Earth is a hypnotic, almost primal experience, while Bolero X reimagines Ravel's famous score, exploring the tension between individuality and collective power.
One of the core principles of this year's BIAF is the close collaboration between world-class visionaries and the artists of Azerbaijan. As part of this initiative, Shahar Binyamini will personally select and mentor dancers from the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Baku Choreography Academy, integrating these young performers into the stagings at the Baku festival.
The second multi-genre Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF), held with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, will be memorable with more than 20 events of various genres across Baku's finest venues. This grand celebration of the arts will unite artists and creative companies from Azerbaijan, Canada, France, Israel, Monaco, Russia, the UK, the USA, and other countries.