On 28 April, Gastronomy Day was held in the city of Shusha within the framework of the “Shusha – ECO Tourism Capital 2026” programme. The event was organised by the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the State Tourism Agency, with the support of the Shusha State Reserve Administration.

Delivering the opening remarks, Aydin Karimov, Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, noted that such events go beyond showcasing different cuisines and also contribute to strengthening ties and fostering dialogue between people.

In his speech, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev highlighted that the organisation of gastronomy events in Shusha has already become a tradition, and that such initiatives serve both to promote national cuisine and to raise international awareness of the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Emphasising Azerbaijan’s deep-rooted culinary traditions and broad potential for the development of gastronomy tourism, Fuad Naghiyev noted that advancing this tourism segment remains one of the Agency’s priority areas.

ECO Secretary General Asad Majeed Khan stated that the Gastronomy Day held in Shusha, designated as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2026, represents a vivid showcase of the rich culinary heritage and cultural diversity of member states. He also underlined that such initiatives contribute to strengthening tourism, cultural and economic cooperation among ECO member countries.

As part of the event, open-air stands representing Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan featured signature dishes prepared by gastronomy specialists from each country, reflecting the gastrotourism potential of their respective destinations.

Visitors were offered the opportunity to sample a variety of traditional dishes unique to each participating country.

The event programme also included performances by mugham singers, traditional dance performances and a concert programme.