The Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF) successfully concluded its 2025 edition, which took place from 31 October to 16 November 2025 and transformed the city into a vibrant hub of global culture. Over two weeks, the festival brought together world-class performers, ensembles, and creative communities for a diverse programme that celebrated the power of the performing arts.
This year’s programme opened with a gala concert at the Philharmonic Hall, where pianist Behzod Abduraimov performed alongside the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra under Fuad Ibrahimov. The festival continued with Daniele Finzi Pasca’s poetic production TITIZÉ – A Venetian Dream, followed by the Baku premiere of Sharon Eyal’s contemporary dance piece Delay the Sadness. A moving tribute to violinist Julian Sitkovetsky brought Dmitry Sitkovetsky back to Baku, leading the State Chamber Orchestra in an emotionally charged performance. The programme also featured a modern theatrical-ballet interpretation of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by Robert Lepage and Guillaume Côté, as well as the Israeli Gesher Theatre’s evocative staging of Anna Karenina.
The festival closed with a powerful reimagining of The Rite of Spring by Yang Liping Contemporary Dance, followed by a concert dedicated to the musicians of Baku, featuring Farhad Badalbeyli, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and Murtuza Bulbul.
Across its performances, BIAF fulfilled its mission to foster artistic dialogue and cultural exchange, uniting international and local talent on some of Baku’s most iconic stages.
