Friday may become an official holiday in Tatarstan

The city of Kazan was officially declared the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026 at the 13th Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Launched in 2005 by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), this program aims to promote the cultural diversity and historical heritage of Muslim countries.

In different years, this status was achieved by the cities of Mecca (Saudi Arabia), Fes (Morocco), Doha (Qatar), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Samarkand (Uzbekistan, 2025).

In connection with the city of Kazan being awarded the status of the Cultural Capital of the Islamic World for 2026, the Council of Elders of Tatarstan took the initiative to declare Friday an official day off throughout the republic.

A corresponding appeal was sent to President Rustam Minnikhanov.