Festivals in Istanbul
How about attending a two-day festival? Chill-Out is one of the most extraordinary events for dancing and listening to electronic and pop music. A lovely atmosphere, different genres of music, several stages with different concepts, activities you can enjoy, and workshops are all part of this festival in June.
Fans of the blues, rejoice. Every July, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts hosts the International Jazz Festival, which lasts three weeks. It is a great way to discover Istanbul’s spirit through remarkable sounds and live performances by top jazz, soul, and blues artists.
The Bosphorus Cross-Continental Swim Race, one of the city’s most exciting annual events, also takes place every July. Organized by the Turkish Olympic Committee, it is one of the few events that allows swimmers to cross the Bosphorus from the Asian side to the European side. If the Bosphorus itself is on your itinerary, a Bosphorus Cruise can also help you experience this iconic waterway from a different perspective.
The Tulip Festival is one of the most beautiful spring events in Istanbul. It paints the city with color during the last three weeks of April. Tulips were important in both the Ottoman and modern eras, symbolizing perfect love, power, and wealth. Joining the Tulip Festival is also a lovely way to learn more about Istanbul and its history.
Other events in Istanbul
If you are looking for more music, the International Music Festival in Istanbul brings an extraordinary summer program. Some of the city’s most historic locations, including Hagia Irene, the Süreyya Opera House, and the Rahmi Koç Museum, open their doors to performances by leading international and local artists. Breathing in the historic atmosphere while listening to great concerts can be a memorable experience.
Do not worry if you cannot make it to the International Jazz Festival in July. In October, Akbank organizes another 10-day Jazz Festival. Like the summer festival, it gives audiences the chance to see world-renowned jazz artists in Istanbul.
Opera lovers are also in for a treat. The International Istanbul Opera Festival, organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, is held annually in the summertime. Each year, it is presented in striking venues, sometimes open-air, combining fantastic music with some of the city’s most beautiful settings.
A festival for readers
Book lovers can look forward to the International Book Fair in Istanbul every November. It lasts eight days and brings together more than 500 exhibitors from Turkey and around the world. Visitors can buy books, join workshops led by notable writers, and take part in a variety of cultural activities.
One of the city’s leading art events, the International Theater Festival, takes place every two years and lasts two weeks. Organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, it includes theater performances as well as side events such as dance performances and workshops in Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Fatih, Üsküdar, and Kadıköy.
Food lovers should keep an eye on the Istanbul International Gastronomy Festival, held every December. This event is for gastronomy and world cuisine enthusiasts, giving visitors the chance to sample flavors from around the world as well as Turkish cuisine, which is an essential part of Turkish culture. The festival also includes a chef competition and lasts three days.
Another important date on the cultural calendar is the Akbank Short Film Festival. Through this festival, Akbank Sanat encourages short film production, supports filmmakers, and connects short films with audiences. The festival lasts ten days and takes place in March at Akbank Sanat in Beyoğlu.
Istanbul’s International Puppet Festival is an 11-day event for puppet and performing arts lovers. Held each year at various venues in Beyoğlu and at the Naval Museum in Beşiktaş, it features puppetry from around the world along with film shows, video shows, conversations, and puppet-making workshops.
Istanbul’s Intercontinental Marathon is another one-of-a-kind event. It is known as the only marathon in the world held on two continents. Volunteers must be signed up. A Fun Run begins on the Asian side of the Altunizade Bridge and ends between Beşiktaş Stadium and Dolmabahce Palace.
For official transport updates before attending any large event venue, it is useful to check Metro Istanbul. For broader travel information about the city and seasonal highlights, GoTürkiye can also help.
Istanbul exhibitions and fairs
Exposition centers in Istanbul are often busy, and many visitors are increasingly interested in fairs and trade events. Still, not everyone knows where these venues are located or how to reach them. Below are some of Istanbul’s most significant exhibition centers and their locations.
CNR Expo
After Tüyap Exposition Venue, CNR EXPO is Istanbul’s second most popular exhibition center. The center expanded over time: the second hall opened in 1997, the third and fourth halls in 1998, and halls 5, 6, 7, and 8 in 2000, following the venue’s first opening in 1985. The exposition center has a total size of 150,000 square meters, including 120,000 square meters of open space. It also includes one indoor parking garage and two uncovered parking garages with a total capacity of 7,500 vehicles. Its varied activities attract thousands of visitors each year.
CNR EXPO is located in Yeşilköy in the Bakırköy district. The metro is an option for getting there. Take the metro toward Atatürk Airport and get off at DTM-Istanbul Expo Center station for easy access.
Istanbul Congress Center
The Istanbul Congress Center is one of the city’s most important exposition centers. It hosts a significant number of local and international exhibitions as well as major business events. The building has eight stories and 120 thousand square meters of floor space. Because of its prominent location, the venue attracts considerable attention and can accommodate large numbers of people at once.
The Istanbul Congress Center is in the Şişli area of Istanbul. You can reach it by using the Taksim or Hacıosman metro line, as it is situated between the Taksim and Nişantaşı districts. Taking a Taksim-bound bus is another practical option, especially if you plan to spend time around Taksim Square before or after an event.
Tüyap Exhibition Center
Tüyap Exposition and Congress Facility, opened in 1996 in Istanbul, is an exhibition and conference center. It includes 60,000 square meters of enclosed space, 60,000 square meters of open display space, and 14 exhibition rooms. On September 14, 2020, the Turkish Standards Institute awarded Tüyap Exhibition and Convention Center the COVID-19 Safe Service Certificate.
Tüyap Exposition Center is one of Istanbul’s best-known exhibition venues. Because of its significance at both local and international levels, many people, including Turkish and international investors, are highly interested in participating in its activities.
Plan your visit around Istanbul’s event calendar
From tulips in spring and jazz in summer to book fairs, gastronomy festivals, and large-scale exhibition venues, Istanbul offers a rich calendar of experiences throughout the year. Event dates and programs can change, so it is always wise to check the official organizers’ websites before you go. With a little planning, you can match your trip with the side of Istanbul that interests you most.
