Here are five major events bringing sport, cinema, literature and the arts to Baku this October, as Azerbaijan’s capital welcomes international talent and visitors for a packed cultural calendar.
Baku is hosting the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, bringing together rising football stars from around the world. Running from 22 to 31 October, the tournament gives young players the chance to compete internationally, gain experience and showcase their talent. The event also underlines Azerbaijan’s growing role as a host of international sporting competitions.
Stay tuned to AnewZ for the latest tournament updates and highlights.
The 17th Baku International Film Festival kicked off on 21 October, welcoming filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from Azerbaijan and beyond. The six-day event features international short films, debut features and Azerbaijani productions, with selected filmmakers vying for the prestigious Golden Pomegranate award. It also gives emerging filmmakers a chance to connect with industry professionals from around the world.
Azerbaijan’s Sabah FK hosted German side Borussia Dortmund at Baku Olympic Stadium on 20 October in a UEFA Champions League clash. Dortmund claimed a narrow 2–1 victory, although Sabah delivered a spirited performance against their German opponents.
The 12th Baku International Book Fair opened on 21 October at the Baku Expo Centre, welcoming writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 30 countries. Running until 27 October, the fair features book presentations, meet-the-author sessions, discussions and masterclasses for all ages. Under the slogan “Life Is Bigger Than a Screen: One Child, One Book, One Real World”, the fair aims to inspire a love of reading and encourage cultural exchange through literature.
The Baku International Arts Festival will run from 28 October to 8 November, offering a packed programme of music, theatre, ballet and visual arts. More than 20 events are planned, with internationally acclaimed performers including violinist Maxim Vengerov and the Akram Khan Company among the highlights. The festival promises audiences a vibrant mix of artistic traditions and contemporary performances, rounding off Baku’s busy autumn cultural calendar.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in il...
The 12th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, bringing together writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 3...
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said.&nbs...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be resolved through diplomacy and blamed the United States for insecurity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
Yemen's Houthis have denied targeting the holy city of Medina on Wednesday adding that they have not conducted any military operations towards Saudi Arabia either, denying earlier comments from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Thursday that four vessels involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were simultaneously hit and caught fire after being tracked by its forces on Wednesday.
The 12th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, bringing together writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 30 countries to promote literature and international cultural exchange.
Baku is welcoming filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts for the 17th edition of the Baku International Film Festival (BIFF), bringing together Azerbaijani and international productions. The festival began on Wednesday and will run for six days.
A former gang leader was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison on Tuesday for orchestrating the 1996 drive-by shooting death of hip-hop star Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas, capping the prosecution of a long-unsolved murder that shaped the golden age of rap music.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 14 October 2026, featuring the top five culture and entertainment stories from around the world.
Two paintings by French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir worth millions of dollars have been recovered a month after they were stolen from a French Riviera museum. Four men have been charged in connection with the theft, while two other suspects have been released without charge.
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