In a major announcement for the region, the Baku Flames International Festival of Creativity and Effectiveness has officially unveiled the concept for its highly anticipated 2026 edition, set to take place on May 15-16. Titled "Human After All," this year's theme addresses the creative industry's most pressing conversation: the role of humanity in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
Building on this momentum, the 2026 edition digs deeper into the source of creativity. The festival acknowledges that while we live in an era where machines can paint, write, and predict, there is one thing they cannot do: Feel. As AI tools reshape how content is produced, Baku Flames aims to shift the focus back to the creators themselves, celebrating the "flaws" that make creativity real: our intuition, our empathy, and our ability to dream beyond data.
To bring this vision to life, attendees can expect a program filled with keynotes and panels that explore topics such as "Empathy over Algorithms" and "Machines Learn, Humans Feel". The festival invites agencies, brands, and tech leaders to Baku to discuss how to leverage technology without losing the human touch that makes creative work resonate.
As the countdown begins, the festival has officially mapped out the journey for the season. Following the Theme Reveal on December 18, the schedule proceeds as follows:
Jan 12 (Entries Open) ➝ Feb (Announcement of Jury and Speakers) ➝ Apr 11 (Final day for Young Lions Azerbaijan submissions) ➝ Apr 10 (Award entries close) ➝ May 12 (Shortlist) ➝ May 14 (Pre-party) ➝ May 15–16 (FESTIVAL)
For more information, visit the official website!
