Uzbekistan celebrates 35 years of independence with music, lights and a drone show
Thousands gathered in New Tashkent on 28 August for a large-scale celebration marking Uzbekistan's 35th anniversary of independence, capped by a drone display. The country's official Independence Day falls on 1 September.
Uzbekistan held a large-scale public celebration in New Tashkent on 28 August 2026 to mark 35 years of independence. Thousands of people gathered for an evening filled with live music, dance performances and entertainment.
The lineup featured some of the country's most well-known singers and dancers, alongside international guests. British soprano Sarah Brightman, Italian tenor Alessandro Safina and Spanish tenor José Carreras all appeared on stage during the evening.
A high-tech spectacle
The show combined live musical performances with an elaborate stage production, incorporating 3D projections, lighting effects and robotic performances. The celebration reached its peak with a drone display above New Tashkent, in which hundreds of drones created shifting images and patterns across the night sky.
The festivities took place in the new city's main celebration square, an area surrounded by recently opened educational and cultural institutions. The event served as a prelude to Uzbekistan's official Independence Day, which the country will observe on 1 September.
