The festival was jointly organised by the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Khorezm Regional Administration and was held at two unique venues — the historic Ichan-Kala complex and the modern Arda Khiva tourist centre. This year, the festival welcomed 186,000 visitors, including 150,000 domestic tourists and 36,000 international visitors.
One of the festival’s most memorable highlights was the setting of a Guinness World Records title for the largest melon-tasting event.
According to the official Guinness World Records certificate, the record was set on 9 August 2026 in Khiva. A total of 259 participants took part in the tasting simultaneously, sampling more than 10 varieties of melon. The record verification procedure was attended by Sheyda Subashi Gemici, an official Guinness World Records adjudicator and the organisation’s representative for Türkiye and Central Asia.
Throughout the festival, visitors enjoyed a diverse entertainment programme featuring performances by renowned artists, masterclasses, exhibitions, and various competitions. The grand closing ceremony concluded with a performance by Russian singer MakSim, creating memorable experiences for the festival guests.
At the festival, districts of the Khorezm Region, leading farms, and other participants presented dozens of melon varieties at their exhibition stands, along with regional products, modern agricultural technologies, and industry achievements. Visitors had the opportunity to taste different varieties of melon, meet producers, and gain a closer insight into Khorezm’s agricultural traditions.
The festival’s winners were announced during the closing programme. Third place was awarded to Urgench State University, the Khorezm branch of UzAuto, and the Khorezm Regional Department of Roads. Second place went to the Khorezm Regional Department of Agriculture. First place was awarded to the Yangiarik District Administration, while the Grand Prize went to the Khiva City Administration.
The International Melon Festival once again demonstrated the strong tourism potential of the Khorezm Region and marked an important step in developing agritourism, promoting the region’s gastronomic heritage, and strengthening its reputation as a modern, welcoming, and attractive tourism destination.
