News

On February 28, 2026, the leadership of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan received an official letter from Paris from the selection committee of the prestigious international architectural award — Prix Versailles. The letter announced that the Islamic Civilization Center had been included in the global list of the world’s most beautiful museums for 2026. This ranking is formed based on strict criteria such as innovation, creative approach, reflection of national heritage, and environmental efficiency. In his letter, Prix Versailles Secretary-General Jérôme Gouadain extended sincere congratulations on this selection and also provided official instructions confirming the Center’s participation in the 2026 list.

Prix Versailles is considered one of the world’s most prestigious awards, annually recognizing the most advanced projects shaping contemporary architectural, cultural, and aesthetic environments. The inclusion of the Islamic Civilization Center in this list signifies international recognition of its concept, symbolic meaning, and contribution to the development of the Eurasian humanitarian space.

According to the official statement, the Center has not only been included in the list of the world’s most beautiful museums for 2026, but has also earned the right to compete for one of three highest global titles for 2026: the Grand Prix Versailles, the “Interior” Award, or the “Exterior” Award. The ceremonial announcement of the world title winners is planned to take place at the end of 2026 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris or in another host city designated by the Award Secretariat.

“Inclusion in the Prix Versailles global list further strengthens the Center’s status as an architectural dominant of the region and a symbol of Uzbekistan’s modern cultural renaissance. This decision confirms that the authorial project of our country’s President, Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, has been highly evaluated as one of the most significant modern museum and cultural initiatives,” said Center Director Firdavs Abdukhalikov.

According to him, the Center is already recognized worldwide as the largest humanitarian and scientific-cultural complex in Central Asia.

This is clearly evidenced by the Islamic Civilization Center’s recognition in prestigious international publications and rankings such as Smithsonian Magazine, BBC Travel, BBC History, and National Geographic. This places the Center alongside major global museum initiatives such as the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Los Angeles), the National Geographic Museum of Exploration (Washington, D.C.), and the London Museum (London). Earlier, CNN described the Islamic Civilization Center as “one of the most ambitious cultural projects of the modern era,” highlighting its unique spatial scale: the structure is four times taller than the famous Hollywood sign and seven times larger than the White House.

Such international recognition clearly demonstrates that Uzbekistan’s position on the global cultural map is steadily strengthening.

The opening of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is scheduled for March 2026.