The Shark Taronlari (Melodies of east), Samarkand

The festival is a competition between performers of ethnic music representing countries from all over the world.

In 2017 over 250 solo performers – singers and dancers – and music bands from 60 countries around the world came to Uzbekistan to take part in the major international event.

Most of the ensembles perform the folk music of their own countries, which distinguishes the festival from other music events. Songs in different languages pour from the stage, while the visitors can enjoy the view of spectacular folk dances from performers in traditional costume.

Alongside the main stage in the Registan Square, the festival spreads onto other sites, such as schools of music and arts and parks of culture and recreation in Samarkand and other places across the province.

The festival takes place simultaneously with an exhibition fair, where one can purchase articles of applied arts, traditional musical instruments and paintings dedicated to the musical culture of Uzbekistan.

The opening and closing are the brightest and most spectacular moments of the festival, with several hundreds of performers from all over Uzbekistan taking part in the shows.