Culture Policy Overhaul: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a sweeping decree to boost Uzbekistan’s culture, arts and literature, including a new state target fund “Investments in Creativity” with 200 billion soums annually, plus major tax breaks for private theaters, film and children’s content producers. Film Industry Reform: Mirziyoyev also moved to overhaul film governance by abolishing Soviet-era censorship bodies and shifting script/project review to professional experts, aiming for 5–10 festival-competitive films per year. Copyright + Social Support: The plan pairs stronger copyright enforcement (including AI-based tracking) with new social benefits for cultural workers and a voucher system for public servants, students and low-income families. Music & Heritage: Uzbekistan’s cultural scene gets a wider regional spotlight as an International Mugham Center concert celebrates young talent and national musical heritage. Green Economy Showcase: Samarkand hosted Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 alongside the GEF Assembly, highlighting green finance, clean tech, water-saving and biodiversity projects. Education Quality Step: Uzbekistan’s quality assurance agency gained full INQAAHE membership in London, supporting international recognition and academic mobility. International Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and the U.S. discussed public diplomacy cooperation, including culture and information exchange.