On May 16–17, Meghri, the 2026 CIS Cultural Capital, hosted the 5th International Crafts Festival, held under the theme “Creative Community, Sustainable Future.”

 

The festival brought together around 70 master artisans from 11 countries (Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Tajikistan). Visitors had the unique opportunity to admire a diverse display of traditional crafts and actively engage in specialized masterclasses including pottery, felting, and carpet weaving. The cultural program of the festival was enriched by a traditional tightrope performance by Mamikon, the “Searching for the Sun” interactive quest by the “LOFT-MEGHRI” Center, the “Capture the Moment” photo zone, and live concerts featuring Katil Band, the Manel Choir, and the Vary Varenk initiative.

 

The festival was organized at the initiative and with the financial support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia, in cooperation with the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Folk Arts Museum, with the support of the Meghri Municipality, the Cultural Development Foundation, and the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States.