Tashkent celebrates Europe Day with EU cultural festival

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Tashkent hosted the EU Festival — Europe Day 2026, a large-scale platform for cultural exchange, dialogue, and the presentation of educational opportunities.

The event was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, who noted in his remarks that Europe Day symbolizes the power of cooperation uniting nations and peoples for peace, progress, and development.

The origins of the celebration trace back to the Schuman Declaration, presented by Robert Schuman on May 9, 1950, which laid the foundations for European integration. Today, the date represents the values of peace, solidarity, and a shared future.

The festival in Tashkent offered visitors an opportunity to explore Europe’s cultural diversity through national pavilions of EU member states, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland. Guests engaged with European traditions through music, cuisine, languages, and interactive formats.

Particular attention was given to education and professional development opportunities. Programs such as Erasmus+, initiatives of DAAD, the Goethe-Institut, and the Alliance Française were presented.

Visitors also explored EU-supported projects in Uzbekistan and Central Asia in areas such as education, environmental protection, digitalization, and civil society support.

A dedicated stand of the European Investment Bank, which recently opened a representative office in the capital, drew particular interest, underscoring the deepening economic cooperation.

The festival featured a насыщенная interactive program, including masterclasses, quizzes, discussions, and concerts, bringing together students, schoolchildren, professionals, and the general public.

Organizers noted that Europe Day in Tashkent served not only as a cultural event but also as an effective platform for strengthening mutual understanding and expanding cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union.