Budapest (TDI): Almaty, the vibrant city nestled at the foothills of Kazakhstan’s Alatau mountains, has been officially designated the Youth Capital of the Turkic World for 2025, succeeding Lankaran, Azerbaijan.
The announcement was made during an informal meeting of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit in Budapest, when Kazakhstan’s President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev revealed the decision.
The formal transfer of the title took place at the opening ceremony of the IV International Youth Festival of the Organization of Turkic States, held yesterday, in Almaty.
The Opening Ceremony of the “Almaty – Youth Capital of the Turkic World” was held on 18 August 2025 in Almaty. The Opening Ceremony was attended by delegations from the Member States and Observers, as well as the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). pic.twitter.com/0r0kkLWYGV
— Embassy of Kazakhstan to Pakistan (@KazEmbassyPK) August 19, 2025
At the ceremony, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva read a message from President Tokayev, in which he described Almaty as “the golden cradle of our Independence, the blessed land of creative youth.”
Kubanychbek Omuraliyev, Secretary General of the OTS, said that the smooth transferring of the title is a reflection of continuity in shared values and the increasing role of youth in shaping the Turkic world’s future.
Meanwhile, Almaty’s Mayor Darkhan Satybaldy portrayed the city as a hub for cultural unity and innovation, saying: “May the strengthened voice of young Turks sound from Almaty, where new ideas are born, friendship gets stronger and hearts unite. Almaty is our common house and the center of the future.”
The festival, which runs through today, brings together youth delegations from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan to exchange ideas on youth policy, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and social initiatives
The Diplomatic Insight is a digital and print magazine focusing on diplomacy, defense, and development publishing since 2009.
