
Asia is full of established art cities, with Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai all among those vying for the crown of the region’s cultural hub.
Until now, Uzbekistan has rarely been mentioned in discussions about artistic creativity in the region. That situation, however, looks set to change following the announcement of the Bukhara Biennial, the Central Asian nation’s first major international biennial.
The event, set to debut in September 2025, represents a significant milestone in the country’s cultural evolution, which has been bolstered by an ambitious state-led push for contemporary art amid its growing economy and increasing openness to foreign investment.

Leading the cultural transformation is Gayane Umerova, a Uzbek native and the chair of the Uzbekistan Arts and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF).
Established in 2017, the ACDF is the first organization of its kind in the country and plays a pivotal role in shaping Uzbekistan’s arts landscape.
The foundation is responsible for commissioning and funding the biennial, as well as overseeing other key art projects, including the much-anticipated Tadao Ando-designed State Art Museum and the restoration of the Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), both located in the capital city, Tashkent.
According to Umerova, the Bukhara Biennial will be the largest and most diverse gathering of artists and artisans ever seen in Uzbekistan. While it is separate from the upcoming museum projects, the biennial shares similar goals of creating sustainable spaces for the preservation of cultural traditions and fostering wider access to Uzbekistan’s rich art heritage. Umerova highlights that the event will allow both local and international audiences to engage deeply with the country’s cultural fabric.
The location for the biennial holds historical significance, as it will take place in the ancient city of Bukhara, a key hub along the Silk Road.

Many of the biennial’s presentations will be staged in historic mosques, minarets, and other iconic landmarks, offering a blend of contemporary art within the context of Bukhara’s storied past.
The theme for this inaugural edition, titled Recipes for Broken Hearts, is curated by Diana Campbell, chief curator of the Dhaka Art Summit. Among the international artists participating are Antony Gormley, Pakui Hardware, Slavs and Tatars, and Himali Singh Soin. Local artists such as Behzod Boltaev, Gulnoza Irgasheva, and Aziza Azim will also contribute. Entry will be free, with all new works created in Uzbekistan specifically for the event.
The title Recipes for Broken Hearts draws inspiration from a well-known local legend in which the iconic Uzbek rice dish, palov, was invented to heal the heart of a prince who couldn’t marry the daughter of a craftsman. Food will play a central role in the biennial, with both local and international chefs cooking on-site. Campbell describes the event as an “expanded feast” that will go beyond traditional biennial frameworks, exploring the healing power of art and culture through communal participation and Bukhara’s historical role in the spice trade.
This biennial also coincides with the restoration of Bukhara’s historic center, a project led by architect Wael Al Alwar and his studio, waiwai. It will be the first major event to take place in this renewed part of the city, further intertwining the preservation of heritage with the future of contemporary art in Uzbekistan.