Tajikistan plans to allocate nearly 100 million somonis to develop the culture and arts sector over the next five years. The funding will be used to hold festivals and competitions, support theaters, digitize libraries, train personnel, conduct academic research in the field of culture, reform management systems, and equip institutions with modern technology.
Asia-Plus has reviewed the draft State Program for the Development of Culture and Arts for 2026–2030.
The total budget of the program amounts to 94.14 million somonis, to be financed from various sources. Funding is expected to increase more than fourfold over the five-year period — from 5.8 million somonis in 2026 to 24.9 million somonis in 2030.
A significant portion of the budget will be allocated to infrastructure development. In particular, the program provides for the construction of cultural centers in the Vakhsh and Panj districts at a cost of 15.2 million somonis. Cultural parks are also planned in the Ayni (9 million somonis), Murgab (9 million somonis), Baljuvon (8 million somonis), and Sangvor (6 million somonis) districts.
The program notes that Tajikistan currently has 368 cultural institutions in need of major repairs, while 75 facilities are in an emergency condition.
The location of cultural institutions is also a concern. A total of 886 facilities are situated in areas that are difficult for visitors to access: 77 operate in private houses, 154 in schools, 270 in public buildings, and 60 in medical facilities.
Libraries face particularly serious challenges. The national library collection is dominated by books in foreign languages, as well as outdated publications in terms of content and subject matter. Only 38% of the collection consists of books in the state language.
Staff shortages are another issue in the culture and arts sector. Of 10,814 established positions, only 10,245 are currently filled.
In addition to addressing these problems, the state program provides for the organization of 18 festivals, competitions, and regular cultural events, some of which will be held for the first time. Special emphasis is placed on poetry and music events, for which 240,000s somoni have been allocated.
Tajikistan allocates nearly 100 million somonis for the development of culture and arts state program for 2026–2030
💰 Key areas of funding
🏗 Construction, repair and reconstruction of cultural facilities – 60.8 million somonis: construction of cultural centers, renovation of museums, and development of cultural parks;
🎪 Cultural and mass events — 12.8 million somonis: festivals, competitions, and creative clubs across the country;
📚 Protection and promotion of cultural heritage — 6.7 million somonis: UNESCO registration, book publishing, and field expeditions;
👨🎓 Training and capacity building — 4.9 million somonis: seminars, training courses, and professional development for specialists;
💻 Modern technical equipment — 4.9 million somonis: purchase of computers, musical instruments, and modern devices
🏛 Organization and management system — 1.4 million somonis: improvement of the legal and regulatory framework and sector management;
🔬 Research Activities — 1.4 million somonis: scientific studies and applied cultural research;
🖥Library automation — 0.7 million somonis: implementation of the Aleph system and digitization of library services
🏪 Strengthening the material and technical base — 1.5 million somonis: shops, internet networks, and development of electronic libraries
