TEHRAN -- Tehran has been hosting the 40th International Fajr Music Festival. 
The week-long event which began Tuesday features performances from six international musicians and bands at Vahdat Hall, according to IRNA.
Artists and groups from Turkey, Spain, India, the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Armenia are participating in the event.
On Wednesday, Turkish cellist Jamal Aliyev and pianist Ece Dağıstan took the stage, followed by Spanish flamenco guitarists Daniel Casares and Antonio Maldonado.
Indian musicians Pavan Shrikant Naik, Ram Deshpande, Vivek Samuel, and Amano Manish will perform on Thursday and Friday.
The Netherlands’ Afro Anatolian Tales and Iran’s Nushe Band will share the spotlight on Saturday.
Afro Anatolian Tales consists of Sjahin During, Bram Stadshouders, and Hungarian musician Bence Huszar, while the Iranian Nushe Band features Niyousha Barimani, Rokhsareh Rostami, Niloufar Ebrahimi, Donya Fathi, Azin Malekzadeh, and Setareh Hatef.
Also on Saturday, Armenian artist Levon Tevanyan will perform, and the festival’s final international act will be Tunisian kanun player Farah Fersi on Sunday.
The kanun is a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument widely played in Iran, the Arab world, and North Africa.
Organized by the Deputy of Artistic Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, along with the Music Office, Iran Music Association, and Roudaki Foundation, the festival aims to promote Iranian music, nurture emerging talent, and preserve national identity.
Beyond international artists, the festival will also feature 100 Iranian bands and more than 1,400 musicians.
Running from February 11 to 17, it will include both competitive and non-competitive performances.