As part of the “Aktau – Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2025” initiative, the International Festival of Young Writers of the Turkic World took place in Aktau, Kazakhstan, TuraNews.kz reports .
The event was jointly organized by TURKSOY, the Aktau City Administration, and the Writers’ Union of Kazakhstan. The goal was to bring together young literary talents aged 20–40 from across the Turkic world, foster artistic collaboration, and promote cultural exchange.
The festival opened with a tribute to renowned Kazakh writer Abish Kekilbayev, including a flower-laying ceremony at his monument and a visit to the regional museum bearing his name.
A total of 59 young writers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan submitted entries in fiction, poetry, and drama. The jury selected 12 finalists to receive awards, certificates, and letters of appreciation at the closing ceremony.
