Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT
Barakah’s news coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and his family, along with essential readings on the Ismaili Imamat, began in 2021. We are starting a new page for 2026 to keep you informed about ongoing updates. While we will mention news events on this page, we will often direct you to dedicated pages for more details, such as Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visits to Jamats around the world and events that span multiple days and cannot be covered comprehensively in brief without compromising essential details. We invite you to explore our coverage from 2021 to 2025 by clicking the following links, helping you stay connected to our shared history of the Imam-of-the-Time.
They all contain anchor links for readers to zero in on a specific news item.
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JANUARY 1 – December 31, 2026, NEWS COVERAGE — ANCHOR LINKS
Chronological Sequence
- January 1-2, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan announces visit to the UK.
- January 15, 2026: Sardinia’s Olbia Airport renamed to honour His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
- January 16, 2026: Prince Amyn Aga Khan meets Portuguese President
- January 16, 2026: Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrives in Karachi
- January 16, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan’s Convocation Message to AKU Graduates
- January 17, 2026: Princess Zahra Aga Khan invested as Pro-Chancellor of Aga Khan University
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January 17, 2026: Princess Zahra Aga Khan invested as AKU’s first Pro-Chancellor
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, the longest-serving member of Aga Khan University’s Board of Trustees, took on a new and significant role on February 26, 2025 when Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the University’s Chancellor, appointed her to serve as the University’s Pro-Chancellor and act on his behalf.
Her formal installation as the University’s first Pro-Chancellor took place on January 17, 2026 during the 38th Convocation Ceremony held at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, which saw the graduation of 461 students from 18 degree programmes. As Pro-Chancellor, Princess Zahra will guide AKU in its continuing efforts to improve the quality of life. The installation was officially performed by Chair Zakir Mahmood, on behalf of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
A strongly held belief in the power of education to change lives and societies has been a defining thread across the history of the Ismaili Imamat — from the founding of Al-Azhar in the tenth century, to the establishment of Aligarh Muslim University, the Aga Khan University, and the University of Central Asia in the twentieth century, and the network of more than 200 Aga Khan Schools educating young people across diverse societies today — His Highness the Aga Khan
In a special video message, Mawlana Hazar Imam, congratulated the graduating class across the University’s campuses in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and Pakistan. He also spoke of the power and potential of education to respond to global challenges and uplift humanity.
“Never before have we known so much about nature and humanity,” he said. “Never before have the tools of scholarship and science been so powerful — from gene editing to artificial intelligence, and from climate science to data-driven innovation. This moment therefore places upon the Aga Khan University and its graduates both an extraordinary responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity: to create, to disseminate, and to apply knowledge in ways that improve the quality of human life.” (Read Mawlana Hazar Imam’s full speech HERE)
In her remarks, Princess Zahra reminisced on her memories of, and involvement with the University, dating back to its founding by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in 1983.
“My AKU journey started when this campus was first conceptualised so I guess I was a little girl. I discussed it very often during family meals and throughout my childhood, and [my father] was so proud, so very proud when the charter was signed.”
Princess Zahra also reflected on the forward progress, geographic expansion, and vital contributions of the University over time, all driven by collective effort. She concluded with a special tribute to graduands, who she called on to lead with conviction and compassion.
“The University’s geographic expansion has seen AKU’s presence expand across Pakistan, into more cities and villages than ever before. From Karachi to Matiari, from Lahore to Gilgit, the University’s health care professionals, educators, and researchers are part of the fabric of people’s lives.” — Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
“Today, I am reminded of how much the Aga Khan University’s many past achievements — and its future promise — depend on its graduates,” she said. “Our alumni have carried AKU’s name far and wide, strengthening its reputation for excellence. And now, the Class of 2025 stands ready to follow in their footsteps.”
“Our hopes for the University rest in our faith in you. You have learned to seek knowledge actively and creatively, to value pluralism, to serve others with purpose, and to make ethical conduct the foundation of your professional lives.”
“For these reasons, we believe that your aspirations will become realities.” (Read Princess Zahra’s full speech HERE).
External links: Please click on the following links for detailed reports about the Aga Khan University’s 38th Convocation ceremony held in Karachi, Pakistan.
- AKDN: AKU celebrates Class of 2025 and installs Princess Zahra Aga Khan as Pro-Chancellor
- The Ismaili: AKU salutes class of 2025 and installs Princess Zahra as Pro-Chancellor
- The Aga Khan University News: Princess Zahra Aga Khan Installed as AKU Pro-Chancellor
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January 16, 2026: VIDEO — His Highness the Aga Khan’s Convocation Message to AKU Graduates
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the Chancellor of Aga Khan University (AKU), has congratulated the graduates of AKU across all its campuses, including Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Reflecting on the transformative power of education to change lives, Mawlana Hazar Imam emphasised that this moment places upon AKU and its graduates both an extraordinary responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity — to create, share, and apply knowledge in ways that improve the quality of human life. His full video message can be watched on YouTube, below.
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January 16, 2026: Prince Amyn Aga Khan meets President of Portugal
In a news item dated January 16, 2026, The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, reports that Prince Amyn Aga Khan, uncle of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, met last week with His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, at the Presidential Palace in Belém, Lisbon. Prince Amyn conveyed New Year’s greetings, acknowledged President De Sousa’s outstanding service to the country, and thanked him for his tireless efforts for the protection of human dignity and the promotion of pluralism and peace.
The Portuguese Presidential elections are scheduled for January 18, 2026. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has been Portugal’s president since 2016 and is completing his second and final five-year consecutive term in office.
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January 16, 2026: Princess Zahra Aga Khan arrives in Karachi
A post on the Official ‘X’ Account for the office of the Minister of Culture, Tourism & Antiquities Department, Government of Sindh. has announced the arrival of Princess Zahra Aga Khan, sister of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in Karachi.
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January 15, 2026: Princess Zahra Aga Khan attends ceremony of renaming Olbia Airport in honour of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
Shortly after the death of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, on February 4, 2025, the Board of Directors of Italy’s National Civil Aviation Authority, Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile (ENAC), at the request of the Municipality of Olbia, resolved to rename Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport in his memory.
Mawlana Shah Karim’s work has had a decisive impact on the island’s economic and cultural transformation, and this renaming is a fitting tribute to his commitment. The request to change the airport name is the responsibility of ENAC, the authority for technical regulation, certification, and oversight of the civil aviation sector, under Article 687 of the Navigation Code. Once the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport gives his opinion, the procedure is completed with the competent Territorial Director’s adoption of the order.
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The Mayor of Olbia Settimo Nizzi, on January 15, 2026, officially announced the airport’s new name: Olbia-Costa Smeralda-Prince Karim Aga Khan IV Airport at a ceremony held at Olbia City Hall. In attendance was Princess Zahra Aga Khan, daughter of His Late Highness and sister of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Mawlana Shah Karim’s successor. The recognition honours Mawlana Shah Karim’s contributions to the city and surrounding region in Sardinia, Italy.
Princess Zahra thanked city officials for the posthumous honour bestowed on her father.
“My father dedicated many years of his life to projects that he started in Costa Smeralda,” she said. “He deeply loved Sardinia and its people, its land, its mountains, its waters.”
“[He] also supported the creation of lasting institutions, which had a far greater impact than a simple injection of economic resources. And as always, he approached the development of the Smeralda coast as a long-term commitment with meticulous planning at every level.”
With the support and guidance of Mawlana Shah Karim in the early 1960s, the region of Monti di Mola in Sardinia was transformed into La Costa Smeralda — the Emerald Coast, using local materials while preserving its natural heritage. When he first visited, the landscape was barren, with no roads or electricity. Over the following years, a planning committee chaired by Mawlana Shah Karim helped develop local infrastructure to attract visitors and strengthen the region’s leisure industry. A key part of this was the construction of Olbia airport to facilitate access and strengthen connections with the rest of the world. While La Costa Smeralda has become a premier tourist destination, efforts in the region have continued to pioneer sustainable ways to grow, including switching to renewable energy, eliminating single-use plastics, and installing recycling stations. It has also experimented with solutions to sea pollution and helped to raise awareness of the challenges facing marine life. The project is well-regarded as the first example of environmentally conscious tourism development in the Mediterranean.
External link(s): Please visit the following websites for additional coverage and pictures of the ceremony held on January 15, 2026, to rename the Olbia airport:
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January 1-2, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan to undertake official visit to the United Kingdom in February 2026
In a Talika Mubarak read in Jamatkhanas worldwide on January 1 and 2, 2026, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, announced he will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom from February 1 to 5, 2026, during which he will meet with the Jamat residing in the UK and Ireland. He also said that he is planning a separate visit to Germany where he will have the opportunity to meet with his Jamat residing in Germany and in other European countries under the jurisdiction of the Ismaili Council for the UK.
To focus his attention on the Jamat of the UK and Ireland, Hazar Imam does not wish members of the Jamat from other countries to travel to the UK during his visit.
In the Talika Mubarak, Hazar Imam also sent his global Jamat good wishes for a very happy New Year: “I pray that 2026 brings happiness, peace, good health, and the fulfilment of all your good wishes,” he said.
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Within days of becoming the 50th Imam upon his father Mawlana Shah Karim’s death on February 4, 2025, His Majesty King Charles III granted the title of His Highness to Mawlana Hazar Imam. His Majesty’s website notes that “the tradition of the title being accorded by the Monarch to the Ismaili Imams dates back to the first Aga Khan. To mark the accession of Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan as the fiftieth hereditary Imam of the Shi’a Ismaili Muslim community, and in accordance with long-standing tradition, it has pleased The King to grant the new Aga Khan the title ‘His Highness’.”
The background details regarding the granting of the title of His Highness to Mawlana Hazar Imam and his immediate 4 predecessors, from Aga Khan I to Aga Khan IV, can be read under the story titled The King is pleased to grant the new Aga Khan the title “His Highness”.
NOTE: Barakah has launched a new page providing comprehensive coverage of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s forthcoming visit to the UK, including the weeks leading up to it. Please click HERE for the special coverage.
Date posted: January 2, 2026.
Last updated: January 20 2026
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Keep up your good work Malik. Happy New Year, Good Health n Good cheer is my prayer for you and Nurin.
Ya Ali Madad,
Sincerely,
Farouk Verjee
Chase Realty Corporation,
Vancouver, BC.
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