On 17 October 2026, JINGIL CREATIVE FEST, a youth festival celebrating Karakalpakstan’s natural and cultural heritage, contemporary creativity, tourism and the creative economy, took place in Nukus.
The event was held at Karakalpak Etno Awil, on the shore of Lake Ashshikol, bringing together more than 300 young people, representatives of educational institutions, entrepreneurs, artisans and creative youth.
The opening ceremony was attended by Timur Nurimbetov, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at Berdakh Karakalpak State University. He emphasised the close relationship between tourism, the economy and ecology in today’s world, highlighting the important role of young people’s active participation, initiative and innovative ideas in developing these interconnected fields.
During the event, M. Kosnazarov, Director of DMO Karakalpakstan, and A. Bekjanova, a representative of a tourism company, also addressed the participants. They highlighted the significance of the festival, emphasising the importance of preserving natural and cultural heritage, raising environmental awareness and supporting youth-led environmental initiatives.
The central symbol of the festival was jingil, a plant native to the Aral Sea region that represents vitality, resilience and the beauty of nature in harsh climatic conditions. The plant served as a source of inspiration for creative initiatives and encouraged participants to explore the region’s natural and cultural heritage from a new perspective.
JINGIL CREATIVE FEST was designed as an open platform where young people could discover Karakalpakstan’s culture and nature, showcase their talents, present new ideas and explore different areas of creative activity.
The festival programme featured the interactive JINGIL QUEST, the JINGIL OPEN MIC music platform, the JINGIL PHOTO & VIDEO CHALLENGE, creative workshops and activities showcasing handicrafts, souvenirs, design products and local goods.
Particular attention was given to developing entrepreneurial thinking and unlocking the creative potential of young people. During the CREATIVE ECONOMY TALK, participants discussed opportunities to transform cultural heritage into contemporary tourism products and business initiatives.
As part of the festival, a creative activity entitled “Jingil Art Painting” was organised. Students from the J. Izentayev School of Young Artists captured the distinctive natural landscapes of Karakalpakstan at Karakalpak Etno Awil, on the shore of Lake Ashshikol, expressing their artistic vision and creative ideas through painting.
The initiative helped young artists showcase their talents, develop a deeper appreciation for nature and promote Karakalpakstan’s natural heritage through art.
The festival concluded with an awards ceremony recognising the winners of creative and team competitions in several categories, including Quest, Creative Music, Debate Time and Jingil Art Painting.
The festival aimed to create new opportunities for young people to contribute to tourism development, cultural heritage preservation and the promotion of creative initiatives, while strengthening the connections between nature, culture, education and entrepreneurship.
Organisers: The Tourism Development Department, DMO Karakalpakstan Public Association, Berdakh Karakalpak State University and the tourism company “MO‘YNOQ ORZULAR OROLI”.
