The letter announced that the Center of Islamic Civilization has 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 ecological efficiency. In his letter, the Secretary General of the Prix Versailles, Jérôme Gouadain, sent sincere congratulations on the occasion of this selection and also presented the official guidelines for 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 the contemporary architectural, cultural, and aesthetic environment. The inclusion of the Center of Islamic Civilization in this list signifies the international recognition of its concept, symbolic significance, and its contribution to the development of the Eurasian humanitarian space.
According to official information, the Center has not only been included in the list of the most beautiful museums for 2026 but has also secured the right to contend for one of the three supreme world titles for 2026. These are the Grand Prix Versailles, the "Interior" nomination, or the "Exterior" nomination. The ceremony for the solemn announcement of the world title winners is planned to be held at the end of 2026 at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris or in another host city determined by the Awards 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 rise. This decision confirms that the authorial project of our country's President, the esteemed Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, is highly valued as one of the most significant among modern museum and cultural initiatives", — says the Center's director, Firdavs Abdukholikov.
He emphasized that the Center is already recognized worldwide today as the largest humanitarian and scientific-cultural complex in Central Asia.
Clear evidence of this is the recognition of the Center of Islamic Civilization by influential international publications and rankings such as Smithsonian Magazine, BBC Travel, BBC History, and National Geographic. This places the Center alongside world-class major museum initiatives like the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Los Angeles), the National Geographic Museum of Exploration (Washington, D.C.), and the London Museum (London). Previously, the CNN television channel described the Center of Islamic Civilization as "one of the most ambitious cultural projects of the modern era," particularly highlighting its unique spatial indicators: the structure is four times taller in its dimensions than the famous Hollywood sign and seven times larger than the White House.
Such international recognition clearly demonstrates the consistent strengthening of Uzbekistan's place on the world cultural map.
The opening of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is scheduled for March 2026.
