From March 19 to 21, 2026, the 17th Badirkhan International Festival will be held in Catanzaro, Italy. This year’s edition is dedicated to commemorating General Sherif Pasha as a pioneer of Kurdish diplomacy.

According to a statement issued by the festival’s High Preparatory Committee, the event will bring together 30 academics, writers, and Kurdish journalists from the Kurdistan Region.

The festival program includes the publication of 13 books, the unveiling of a statue of Sharif Pasha, the opening of book and fine arts exhibitions, and the release of three newspapers in Kurdish, French, and Italian titled “General Sherif Pasha.”

The initiative to commemorate Sherif Pasha and locate his grave (1865–1951) in Italy was led by Dr. Jassim Tawfiq Khoshnaw. The project has been implemented following a year of preparation, in cooperation with several political and academic figures, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representations in Italy and the Vatican, as well as the governorates of Slemani and Catanzaro.