Türkiye and Iran Kick Off Joint Cultural Year with Ankara Concert

Türkiye and Iran kicked off their joint cultural year with a captivating concert in Ankara, the Turkish capital, honoring the renowned Persian poet Shams-ud-din Muhammad Hafiz.

The event celebrated the lasting literary and cultural ties between the two countries, The Caspian Post reports citing Turkish media.

Aiming to strengthen cultural dialogue and promote mutual understanding through yearlong cultural programs, the joint cultural year was declared following the latest Türkiye-Iran high-level cooperation council meeting, chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

At the concert, Türkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Abbas Salehi joined audiences in honoring the legacy of the celebrated Persian poet.

Speaking ahead of the concert, Ersoy said the year would be celebrated with exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, literary gatherings and academic symposiums held across both countries.

“Through these events, we will come to know each other’s art, music, language, cuisine and people more closely,” Ersoy said, emphasizing that culture is a universal language that strengthens friendship and transcends borders.

Salehi said he was honored to attend the event in Türkiye, describing literature as a language that connects hearts beyond geography and politics.