Festivals and Events

More than 100 festivals take place in Turkey every year.  Along with the local festivals organised in almost every city of the country, international culture and art festivals are also held in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya.  Istanbul is the most important centre of international culture and art festivals and sponsored festivals.

   
                Edirne Oil Wrestling Championships                        Istanbul Music Festival

The Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation organises the International Istanbul Film Festival every April, the International Istanbul Theatre Festival every May, the International Istanbul Music Festival every June and July, the International Istanbul Jazz Festival every July and the International Biennial once every two years.  Within the framework of these festivals, hundreds of renowned performing artists and musicians from all over the world gather in Istanbul, adding further colour and cultural lustre to a city which is famous for its historical and cultural richness.

In the summer months, a number of annual music festivals are sponsored by some prominent Turkish corporations.  The Pamukbank Dance Days, which brings world-famous dance groups to Istanbul, the Efes Pilsen Blues Festival which has been going strong for over ten years and hosts well-known groups, the Akbank International Jazz Festival, during which Turkish musicians and the jazz masters of the world meet, the Yapi Kredi Art Festival, which has the characteristics of "one-year-festival", with its activities from Rock and Roll and pop to classic music and jazz spread throughout the year, and the Fujifilm World Music Days are the most important of these music festivals.

In the capital city, Ankara, the International Ankara Music Festival is held every year in April-May by Sevda Cenap And Foundation.  The Festival, which is a member of the European Festivals Union and of which the 16th was held in 1999, has hosted over 8000 famous artists up until today.  Moreover, the Turkish Choruses Festivity, which is run by the Polyphonic Choruses Association established with the objective of spreading polyphonic music in the country, brings together thousands of music lovers, with its increasing number of invited choruses and listener capacity every year.

The International Izmir Festival held annually is organised by the Izmir Culture, Art and Education Foundation.  The 16th year of the festival was celebrated in the year 2000, which was held in historical places such as the Amphitheatre at Ephesus, the Celcius Library and the House of the Virgin Mary and, as it is the case every year, world-famous artists and groups in the branches of orchestra concerts, chamber music, ballet, theatre, jazz and pop participated in the event.  Additionally, the 7th Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, which attracts about 80,000 people every year, was held in the year 2000.

The Bilkent International Anatolia Music Festival, which is one of the most important organisations calling from Turkey to the world, for friendship and peace through the language of music, carries the magical rhythm of the classical music to various regions of Anatolia throughout a month every year.  This festival was the first of its kind among international festivals in its mobile capacity and it celebrate its 6th year in 1999. 

The oldest film festival in Turkey is the Antalya Film Festival.  This festival which celebrated its 40th year in 2000, is sometimes referred to as "the Oscars of the Turkish film industry".  The International Ankara Film Festival and the Adana Altin Koza Film Festival are two other important film festivals which attract the cinema-lovers of Turkey.  Film weeks are also held in many other cities.

Other prominent festivals inclue the Edirne Oil Wrestling Championships typically held in June, the Mevlana Commemoration (Whirling Dervish) Festival in Konya which takes place in December and the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival (June/July).

 
Mevlana Commemoration                                                Aspendos Festival

Among the other annual festivals of Turkey  are the Traditional Mesir Festival in Manisa, the International Music and Folklore Festival in Adana, the Cesme Music Festival in Cesme, the Ceramic Festival in Kutahya, the Hittite Festival in Corum, the GAP Culture and Art Festival in Gaziantep and the Kemer Carnival in Kemer.

Secular Holidays :

April

The Mesir Macunu (Power Gum) Festival in Manisa commemorates the curative power of a honeyed, many-spiced (41) elixir that restored the health of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman's mother over 400 years ago. (The number 41 holds a mystical significance to the Turks; the successful completion of certain events is commonly marked by saying a special phrase 41 times.) When cured, the Sultan's mother insisted that citizens of Manisa be given this concoction at her expense. Today's festival includes actors in period costumes staging its production. Bottles of the elixir are for sale, and the suggested dosage is 3 spoonfuls a day to eliminate most ailments.

June

Strawberry Festival in Bartin to celebrate the harvesting of the strawberry crop. International Wine Festival in Urgup, the center of a successful wine producing region. Several small wineries in Cappadocia hold this wine tasting event.

July

Apricot Festival in Malatya, Turkey's apricot capital, to celebrate the harvesting of the crop.

August

Mengen (Bolu) Chef's Festival. Turkish chefs regale local and foreign travel writers and the press with samples of Turkish gastronomical delights.

September

Watermelon Festival in Diyarbakir with prizes going to the biggest.

Principal Turkish International Culture & Art Festivals

Turkey Festival Links Turkey Property | Festivals in Turkey
Well over 100 festivals take place in Turkey each year and at times it is challenging to keep abreast with all the events that are regularly staged around the Mediterranean country. From opera to oil wrestling there is never a shortage of occasions for overseas visitors and Turkey property owners to attend.

Istanbul is undoubtedly the epicentre of festivals in Turkey. The Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation plays a big part in organising a series of major dates in Turkey's festival calendar. Istanbul Film Festival, International Istanbul Theatre Festival, International Istanbul Music Festival and International Istanbul Jazz Festival, all draw a big international crowd.