European Day of Languages 2026 celebrated linguistic and cultural diversity in Tashkent
On 30 September 2026, Tashkent marked the European Day of Languages with a full day of activities celebrating Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity and bringing together more than 500 language enthusiasts. The event also highlighted the importance of multilingualism in strengthening people-to-people contacts and creating pathways towards greater educational and cultural exchange between Europe and Uzbekistan.
EU IN UZBEKISTAN
The daytime programme was hosted by the Uzbekistan State World Languages University, where native speakers introduced participants to different European languages through interactive activities. Alongside the presentations, a Language Fair brought together country tables offering games, quizzes, cultural information and opportunities for students to engage directly with different languages and cultures. H.E. Paraskevi Tzeveleki, Ambassador of Greece, and H.E. Guido De Sanctis, Ambassador of Italy, participated in the opening ceremony, alongside representatives of the Embassies of the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as the British Council, Goethe-Institut, and Alliance Française.
As noted by Mr Otabek Yusupov, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs and Innovation at the Uzbekistan State World Languages University, language learning is not only an important part of modern education, but also an effective tool for international dialogue, cultural exchange, and cooperation.
The event also provided an opportunity to highlight the links between language learning, education and international exchange. For students and young people in particular, knowledge of foreign languages can contribute to academic mobility, future employment opportunities and stronger connections with people from different cultural backgrounds.
The celebrations continued in the evening with Speakeasy Night at the Goethe-Institut, to continue the conversation, cultural exchange and networking. Almost 200 participants could choose between a screening and discussion of European and Uzbek short films or interactive language tables and speed-networking sessions. The activities invited participants to explore expressions, idioms and cultural facts while meeting other language learners and enthusiasts.
“Languages are an essential part of Europe’s cultural identity and an important bridge between people. Europe’s strength lies in its diversity, and learning each other’s languages helps us turn that diversity into greater understanding, dialogue and cooperation. I am confident learning languages is an important driver of connectivity between the EU and Uzbekistan”. Ms Renata Wrobel, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan.
EU IN UZBEKISTAN
Bringing together language, culture, education and informal social exchange, the European Day of Languages in Tashkent offered participants a practical and engaging way to discover Europe’s linguistic diversity. If you want to feel the atmosphere of the evening, listen to European music celebrating unity in diversity [link to the Spotify playlist].
EU IN UZBEKISTAN
The European Day of Languages is celebrated annually on 26 September to promote language learning, multilingualism and intercultural understanding. The Tashkent programme reflected these principles by encouraging participants to discover new languages, engage with different cultures and build connections through shared experiences.