Preparatory work continues for the International Carpet Festival, which will be held on May 1-3, organized by Azerkhalcha OJSC and the Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve Department, with the support of the Ministry of Economy and the Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (AZPROMO).
The festival will commence its activities on May 1 at the Baku Business Center with the International Carpet Forum, dedicated to the topic “Carpet industry: value creation, branding and integration into the global market. From cultural heritage to a competitive global product.” The forum will bring together leading international experts, designers, manufacturers, and researchers of the carpet industry, as well as exporters and representatives of creative industries.
It should be noted that as of April 14, 2026, the registration process has started on the official website of the festival for those wishing to participate in the Forum as listeners. Interested individuals can register via the link https://bakucarpetfest.az/2026/forum/. We would like to inform you that the listener spots allocated for the Forum are limited.
The International Carpet Forum, organized for the second time, is an important platform on the path of transforming hand-woven carpets from traditional heritage into a globally competitive product. The event focuses more on real business practices and successful international examples rather than theory.
The main goals and directions of this year's Forum are as follows:
Transition from Culture to Business: The Forum presents carpets not just as museum exhibits or ancient art samples, but as products with high commercial value that can be sold in the global market;
Modern Design Demand: The main approach is that, in addition to the carpet's quality, its suitability for modern interiors and design innovations are also crucial for international success;
The Power of Storytelling: According to modern marketing requirements, not just the product, but also the culture behind that carpet, the weaver's labor, and the mystical meaning of each pattern should be conveyed to the buyer;
Practical Experience: Instead of theoretical lectures, real sales and export models of foreign companies and designers who have achieved success in the global market are presented as examples.
Nasir Al Darmaki, Vice-President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and ICOM Chairman for the UAE; Prof. Dr. Maria Del Carmen Avendano Rito, a research scientist, academic, and specialist in community-based sustainable development from Mexico; Luca Emilio Brancati, a collector, restorer, and world-class expert in the scientific research of ancient carpets from Italy; Fahri Solak, Secretary General of the Union of Turkish World Municipalities (TDBB); Dinara Asanbayeva, Executive Director of “Kyrgyz Handmade”; Tarik Sadiq, Director General of “Maison de l’Artisann” (House of Artisans), affiliated with the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism, Handicrafts and Social Economy; and others will participate as speakers. This Forum aims to provide a practical roadmap for both designers and manufacturers to increase the economic potential of the carpet sector.