Istanbul: Trkiye's largest city, Istanbul, is set to host an extensive array of cultural and artistic events this week, featuring concerts, theater performances, film screenings, workshops, and exhibitions. According to Anadolu Agency, the lineup promises to immerse attendees in a rich tapestry of music, cinema, and art, reflecting the city's vibrant cultural landscape.
The eventful week will commence with the Presidential Classical Turkish Music Choir's Nihavend Kar concert, marking the start of its 2026-2027 season at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM) Theater Hall on September 20. The choir will perform under the baton of conductor Mehmet Guntekin. Meanwhile, the Grammy-winning Gipsy Kings will grace the stage at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater on September 18 as part of their Historia 2026 Tour, led by founding member Tonino Baliardo. Additionally, the Ankara-based modern jazz ensemble Calico is scheduled to perform at the AKM Multi-Purpose Hall on September 16.
A unique musical presentation, Goethe: East-West Divan, composed by Mehmet Cemal Yesilcay and inspired by German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, will also be showcased at the AKM Theater Hall on September 20 under the direction of conductor Hasan Niyazi Tura.
The week will offer a variety of workshops and family-friendly events, including the Mosaic Lamp Workshop at the Independent Art Foundation, where participants can master traditional Turkish mosaic-lamp techniques. Illusionist and circus performer Erdem Obus will deliver his interactive family production, Harikalar Karnavali, or Carnival of Wonders, at Hilltown Seyirlik Sahne on September 20. Meanwhile, a Turkish tile workshop will be available at Istanbul Workshops -- Fabrikafa Make and Coffee.
Film enthusiasts can look forward to screenings such as EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert at the Zorlu PSM Vestel Amphitheater on September 15, and Senna, chronicling the life of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna, on September 20. Istanbul Modern Cinema will open its new season with Monsoon Dreams, a program spotlighting contemporary Southeast Asian cinema.
Art exhibitions across the city promise to captivate visitors, with highlights including Temas, an exhibition by the Culture and Civilization Foundation (KUME) at Karakoy Palas, and the Barrier-Free Gaza Art Encounters Group Exhibition at the Birlik Foundation headquarters. Visitors can also explore the personal belongings of Serif Muhiddin Targan at the Beyazit Manuscript Library, and Istanbul Modern's Under the Same Blue exhibition at the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacibasi Collection Gallery.
The Dream That Sees Istanbul: Bursa photography exhibition will continue to display the historical heritage of Bursa at the Uskudar Mimar Sinan Gallery. Traditional Turkish illumination takes center stage in Two Brushes, One Harmony at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce's Yeni Cami Hunkar Pavilion, and Burcu Araci's solo exhibition Traces and Reflections will be featured at the Esenyurt Art Center.