On September 6, the International Gastronomy Day was held in Shusha as part of a joint initiative by the State Tourism Agency, the Shusha city State Reserve Management, and the National Culinary Center.

The event brought together culinary representatives from Azerbaijan and key target tourism markets within the Islamic world, including Turkey, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran.

As part of the event, a roundtable discussion was held with experts from participating countries, where presentations were showcased on the experiences of destinations specializing in halal cuisine, the role of Islam in gastronomy culture, and future perspectives. Participants exchanged insights and ideas on these topics.

In the second part of the event, an outdoor tasting session was organized in tent stands, featuring dishes that reflected the common Iftar traditions included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a nomination jointly submitted by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

The event was attended by Aydın Karimov, Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, and Azadə Hüseynova, Deputy Chair of the State Tourism Agency.

Additionally, a gastronomic and cultural heritage exhibition was held, featuring elements of Karabakh and East Zangezur’s culinary traditions and material culture as part of Azerbaijan's national tourism brand identity. Visitors also had the opportunity to explore UNESCO-listed intangible heritage artifacts, including manuscripts, calligraphy texts, religious writings, and miniatures showcasing the centuries-old decorative art of "Tazhib" (illuminated manuscript decoration).

The International Gastronomy Day was organized as part of the Cabinet of Ministers’ Action Plan for the designation of Shusha as the "Cultural Capital of the Islamic World" for 2024, following the decree issued on January 19, 2024.