CALENDAR
Turkish and International Culture and Art Festivals
More than 100 festivals are organized in Turkey every year. Along with the local festivals organized 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 center of international culture and art festivals. Here are the Principal Turkish International Culture and Art Festivals and other important events:
| January | International Guitar Festival Istanbul, January 11-19 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
| International Baroque Festival Istanbul, January 29-February 3 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
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| February | MTE Mediterranean Tourism Exhibition Istanbul, February 27-March 2 Organized by: ITF Fair Organization http://www.itf-mte.com |
| March | 1915 Sea Victory Celebration Canakkale, March 13-18 Organized by: Canakkale Office of Governor http://www.canakkale.gen.tr http://www.canakkale1915.com (in Turkish only) http://valilik.canakkale.org |
| International Rock Festival Ankara, March 16-17 Organized by: Cankaya Municipality |
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| April | EMITT East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel Exhibition Istanbul, April 3-6 Organized by: Ekin Fuarcilik ve Tanitim http://www.emittistanbul.com |
| Anzak Day Ceremonies Canakkale-Eceabat Gelibolu Peninsula, April 24-25 Organized by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Canakkale Office of Governor http://www.anzacs.org |
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| International Istanbul Film Festival, Istanbul,
April 12-27 Organized by: Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation http://www.istfest.org |
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| International Ankara Music Festival Ankara, March 31-April 26 Organized by; Sevda- Cenap And Music Foundation http://www.ankarafestival.com |
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| International Children Festival Istanbul, April 20-24 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
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| International Dance Festival Istanbul, April 28-May 4 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
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| May | International Youth Festival Istanbul, May 12-20 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
| Yunus Emre Culture and Art Week Eskisehir, May 6-10 Organized by: Eskisehir Office of Governor and Yunus Emre Culture, Tourism and Art Foundation. http://www.eskisehir.gov.tr |
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| Bodrum Jazz Days Bodrum, May 12-June 1 Organized by: Bodrum Municipality |
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| Flying Broom International Women’s Film Festival Ankara, May 8-15 Organized by: Flying Broom Organization http://www.ucansupurge.org |
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| International Sea Festival Bodrum, May 26-June 1 Organized by: Bodrum Municipality |
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| International Black Sea Countries Theater Festival Trabzon, May 16-25 Organized by: Trabzon State Theater |
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| June | International Kus Cenneti (Bird Paradise) Culture and Tourism
Festival Balikesir- Bandirma, June 1st Week Organized by: Bandirma Municipality http://www.balikesir.gov.tr (in Turkish only) |
| International Kahta Kommagene Festival Adiyaman-Kahta June 25-27 Organized by; Kahta Government Office, Kahta Municipality and Tourism Information Office |
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| International Istanbul Music Festival Istanbul, June 5-July 3 Organized by: Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation http://www.istfest.org |
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| Traditional Kirkpinar Oil- Wrestling Festival Edirne, June 2-29 Organized by: Edirne Municipality http://www.tarihikirkpinar.gen.tr (in Turkish only) |
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| June-July | International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival Antalya-Serik, June 14-August 16 Organized by: General Directorate of Turkish State Opera and Ballet http://www.kultur.gov.tr |
| International Kas-Likya Culture and Art Festival Antalya-Kas, June 28-July 1 Organized by: Kas Municipality |
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| Dalyan Tourism Caretta Caretta Festival Mugla-Ortaca, June 30-July 7 Organized by: Dalyan Municipality |
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| July | Aksehir International Nasreddin Hoca Festival Konya-Aksehir, July 5-10 Organized by: Aksehir Municipality and Aksehir Nasreddin Hoca Tourism Association. |
| International Istanbul Jazz Festival Istanbul, July 4-20 Organized by; Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation http://www.istfest.org |
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| Artvin Kafkasör Culture, Tourism and Art Festival Artvin, July 11-13 Organized by: Artvin Office of Governor, Artvin Municipality http://www.artvin.gov.tr |
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| Kümbet Yayla Festival Giresun-Dereli, July 12-13 Organized by: Dereli Municipality http://www.giresun.gov.tr (in Turkish only) |
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| Bektas Yayla Festival Giresun-Dereli, July 26-27 Organized by: Dereli Municipality http://www.giresun.gov.tr (in Turkish only) |
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| International Swimming Competition Istanbul (across the Bosphorus), July 13 Organized by: National Olympic Committee of Turkey http://www.olimpiyatkomitesi.org.tr |
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| August | International Troy Festival Canakkale, August 10-16 Organized by: Canakkale Municipality |
| Hacibektasi Veli Commemoration Ceremonies Nevsehir-Hacibektas, August 16-18 Organized by; Hacibektas Municipality http://www.wec-net.com.trbelediye/hacibektas |
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| Bilkent International Anatolia Music Festival Sanliurfa, August 14 Organized by: Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts. www.bilkent.edu.tr~mssf/index.html |
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| Sultanmurat Yayla Festival Trabzon-Caykara, August 20 Organized by: Caykara Municipality http://www.trabzonturizm.gov.tr |
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| August-September | Izmir International Fair Izmir, August 26- September 3 Organized by: IZFAS Izmir Fair Organization http://www.izmirfair.com.tr |
| Avanos International Tourism and Handicrafts Festival Nevsehir-Avanos, August 31-September 1 Organized by: Avanos Municipality |
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| Mengen Chefs’ and Tourism Festival Bolu-Mengen, August-September Organized by: Mengen Municipality |
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| September | International Istanbul Biannual Istanbul, September 20-November 16 Organized by: Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation http://www.istfest.org |
| International Folk Dances Festival Izmir-Balcova, September 1st Week Organized by: Balcova Municipality |
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| International Side Culture and Art Festival Side, September 1-4th Week Organized by: Side Municipality |
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| International Atatürk Dam Water Sports Feast Sanliurfa- Bozova, September 27-28 Organized by: GAP Regional Development Organization |
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| 'Altin Safran' Documentary Film Festival Karabuk-Safranbolu, September 20-24 Organized by; Safranbolu Municipality http://www.altinsafran.com (in Turkish only) |
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| International Wine Competition Nevsehir- Urgup, September 14-15 Organized by: Urgup Municipality |
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| October | Antalya Altin Portakal Film Festival Antalya, October 1-5 Organized by: Antalya Altin Portakal Culture and Art Foundation http://www.altinportakal.org.tr |
| International Bodrum Cup Gulet Competition Bodrum, October 18-24 Organized by: Bodrum Municipality http://www.bodrumcup.com |
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| Mountainbike Antalya-Alanya, October Organized by: Alanya Municipality and Alanya Nature Sports Club |
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| Triathlon (Swimming, Biking, Running) Antalya-Alanya, October 24 Organized by: Alanya Municipality and Alanya Nature Sports Club http://www.triathlon.org.tr |
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| Mersin International Music Festival Icel- October 1- 15 Organized by: Mersin Office of Governor, Mersin Municipality and civil Organizations. |
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| November | Marmaris Yacht Races Marmaris, November 1st Week Organized by: Marmaris Yacht Festival Committee |
| International Ankara Theater Festival Ankara, November 1-10 Organized by: Toplumsal Arastirmalar Vakfi |
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| December | International Mystic Music Festival Istanbul, December 1-8 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
| International Ankara Film Festival Ankara, December 18-28 Organized by: World Mass Communication Foundation http://www.filmfestankara.org.tr |
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| International Piano Festival Istanbul, December 16-21 Organized by: Istanbul Municipality Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall http://www.crrks.org (in Turkish only) |
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| Mevlana (Whirling Dervishes) Commemoration Ceremonies Konya, December 10-17 Organized by: Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Konya Office of Governor http://www.konya.gov.tr |
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| St. Nicholas Symposium Antalya-Kale(Demre), December 5-7 Organized by: Kale Municipality http://www.santaclausfoundation.org |
