Baku, August 6, AZERTAC
The first 2026 issue of the English-language edition of IRS-Heritage magazine, which promotes Azerbaijan’s historical and cultural heritage to the international readership, has been published.
The new issue features articles highlighting Azerbaijan’s ancient history, architectural heritage, musical culture, ethnography, modern urban development practices, and tourism potential.
In his editorial, Editor-in-Chief Musa Marjanli focuses on the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress, commemorated this year. He emphasizes the historic significance of the congress, held in Baku in 1926, for the cultural and scientific integration of the Turkic world, noting that its ideas remain relevant today.
The From the Past section includes an article by Academician Nizami Jafarov dedicated to the historical mission of the First Turkological Congress, analyzing its contribution to the scientific, cultural, and social development of the Turkic peoples.
The Personality section features an article by Academician Jafar Giyasi on Ajami Nakhchivani, the outstanding representative of the 12th-century Azerbaijani school of architecture, highlighting his remarkable legacy and invaluable contribution to Azerbaijan’s architectural heritage.
The issue also introduces a new section, Urban Studies, where historian Sabuhi Ahmadov examines Azerbaijan’s human-centered and sustainable urban development model through the transformation of Baku from the “Black City” into the “White City”. The article also reviews the country’s achievements in the context of the World Urban Forum held in Baku in 2026.
The magazine further presents “Between East and West: My Discovery of Azerbaijani Music”, an article by German author Dagmar Kuhn, who shares her impressions of mugham, the ashig tradition and Azerbaijan’s school of classical composition.
The issue also contains articles on Azerbaijan’s ethnography, fine arts, tea culture, and traditions of hospitality, as well as a travel feature dedicated to the route leading to Khinalig, one of the country’s most remarkable mountain settlements.
Published in several languages, IRS-Heritage continues to serve as an important platform for promoting Azerbaijan’s rich history, culture, and national heritage worldwide.