A Republic Scientific Conference titled "Khaqani Shirvani 900 – Predecessors and Successors: Medieval Manuscripts and Historical Problems of Azerbaijani Culture" was held at Khazar University, dedicated to the 900th birth anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Afzaladdin Khaqani Shirvani. Jointly organized by Khazar University's Mawlana Institute of Literary and Philosophical Research and ANAS's Manuscripts Institute named after Muhammad Fuzuli, the conference aims to study the poet's rich literary and philosophical heritage on a broader scale and present it to the scientific community, in accordance with the Decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated January 28, 2026.

The conference was opened by Dr. Farida Seyidova, coordinator of the Mawlana Institute of Literary and Philosophical Research, who welcomed participants on behalf of Khazar University's leadership and outlined the conference's objectives. Associate Professor Aynur Hajigadirli, Academic Secretary of the ANAS Manuscripts Institute, drew attention to the significance of the state decree and the importance of researching Khaqani's heritage. Professor Imamverdi Hamidov, Head of the Department of Early Medieval and Renaissance Azerbaijani Literature at ANAS's Institute of Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi, spoke about the unique place and role of Khaqani in the history of Azerbaijani literature. Associate Professor Elnara Zeynalova, another Khaqani scholar and leading researcher at the Institute, presented to conference participants the key scientific milestones in the study and research of Khaqani's heritage. At the conclusion of the opening session, guests were given a close acquaintance with the university's "Mawlana Room." The conference then continued its work in sessions.

Discussions were held across a total of 5 sessions (sections). Within the framework of the conference, 29 researchers presented in person at the university, while 4 scholars participated via an online platform. A total of 34 papers were submitted to the scientific gathering. The sessions featured presentations primarily in the fields of textual criticism, source studies, literary studies, folklore studies, and cultural studies; the poet's artistic characteristics, translations of his works into world languages, as well as current issues and prospects of Azerbaijani Khaqani studies were discussed. The conference was met with great appreciation in terms of defining the future prospects of Azerbaijani Khaqani studies, and it was announced that the conference proceedings will be published as a special issue of the ANAS Manuscripts Institute's journal "Manuscripts Do Not Burn."