Kokand International Handicrafters Festival in Kokand
The Kokand International Handicrafters Festival began in September 2019, hosted by the Uzbekistan Handicraft Association with the World Crafts Council's president as guest of honor, drawing more than 600 artisans from around 70 countries. Held in the historic Fergana Valley city of Kokand, it showcases traditional crafts alongside conference sessions on developing hand craftsmanship worldwide.
Kokand, once the capital of its own khanate ruling much of the Fergana Valley until Russian conquest in the nineteenth century, carries a long history as a center of trade, learning, and craftsmanship, visible today in landmarks such as the ornately decorated Khudayar Khan Palace.