CCA Tashkent: how to visit the new Centre for Contemporary Arts
The Centre for Contemporary Arts Tashkent (CCA Tashkent) opened to the public on September 6, 2026, in a converted 1912 power station in the middle of the capital. Two details decide your visit before anything else: entry is free but requires advance registration, and the centre is closed on Mondays.
A 1912 power station on Amir Temur Street
The building at Building B, 6 Amir Temur Street was designed in 1912 by Wilhelm Heinzelmann and worked as a diesel station and tram depot — it powered Tashkent’s first tram line. The Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation (ACDF) took over the site in 2019, and Paris-based Studio KO handled the conversion.
For a traveler, that adds a category the city did not have. Tashkent’s culture route has long been split between heritage complexes and Soviet-era museums; this is the country’s first permanent institution built around contemporary art, research, and public programming.
Register first — free entry is not walk-in entry
Admission is free for all visitors, but you need to register in advance through the centre’s booking page. Treat it like a timed museum ticket and sort it out the evening before, not at the door.
Opening hours:
- Monday: closed
- Tuesday–Thursday: 10:00–20:00
- Friday–Saturday: 10:00–22:00
- Sunday: 10:00–20:00
Groups, schools, and organisations book separately and in advance. There is parking on site and nearby, plus bus stops within walking distance, though spaces get tight at peak hours.
What is on show
HIKMAH runs from September 6, 2026 to January 31, 2027. It is the inaugural group exhibition, assembled by chief curator Dr Sara Raza around ideas of wisdom, spirit, and material transformation, with new commissions alongside established works.
What else is inside the building
- A 90-seat auditorium with audiovisual equipment for screenings, talks, and performances.
- A research library on art, visual cultures, and critical theory — by appointment only, so request access ahead of your dates.
- A store with books and limited editions produced for the centre.
- A café-restaurant with a seasonal menu built on contemporary readings of Uzbek cooking.
The library rule is the one most people miss. If you are coming for the archive rather than the galleries, write ahead; it cannot be arranged on the day.
Fitting it into a Tashkent day
Use the opening hours as the planning lever:
- Monday arrival: the centre is closed. Put Chorsu Bazaar, the metro stations, or the Khazrati Imam area in that slot instead.
- Friday or Saturday: the 22:00 close makes it a real evening stop after a full sightseeing day, which very few Tashkent museums allow.
- Short trip, one culture slot: if you want manuscripts, mosque courtyards, and heritage architecture, the north-side Khazrati Imam block still does more. Choose CCA for contemporary work, a café stop, and a central address instead of another heritage sequence.
Because it sits centrally rather than out on the eastern edge of the city, it fits a walking day around the centre without the long transfers the newer eastern districts demand.
Before you go
- Register online for your date and keep the confirmation.
- Avoid Monday; take Friday or Saturday for a late visit.
- Request library access separately if you need the archive.
- Book group visits ahead instead of arriving as a walk-in group.
FAQ
Do I need a ticket for CCA Tashkent?
Entry is free for all visitors, but advance registration through the centre’s booking page is required. Register before you arrive rather than at the entrance.
When is CCA Tashkent closed?
Mondays. The rest of the week it opens at 10:00 and closes at 20:00, except Friday and Saturday, when it stays open until 22:00.
Where is CCA Tashkent?
At Building B, 6 Amir Temur Street, in the middle of the city. There is parking on site and nearby, and bus stops within walking distance, so it fits a central walking day without a long transfer.