Bukhara delights with art, while the authorities count political dividends

The first Biennale in Bukhara attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and became one of the most talked-about cultural events in Central Asia. However, behind the aesthetic spectacle and narrative of cultural dialogue lies the question of whether art in Uzbekistan is a space of freedom, or rather a carefully designed tool for building the image of an authoritarian state.

February 20, 2026 - Anna Gzubicka