Saucy Radar
The big events in Turkey worth knowing about
Festivals, races and major cultural events happening around Turkey. Saucy does not run these and there is nothing for sale here. This is the practical detail, getting there, what it costs, who it is actually for, that a ticket listing leaves out.
12-26 September 2026
Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival
Aspendos Ancient Theatre, Serik, Antalya
The 33rd Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival runs 12 to 26 September 2026 inside the Roman theatre at Aspendos in Serik, Antalya, opening with Verdi's Attila. Tickets are sold per performance by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet.
19-20 September 2026, its second edition of the year
Istanbul Cocktail Festival
LifePark, Sariyer, Istanbul
The Istanbul Cocktail Festival returns to LifePark in Sariyer on 19 and 20 September 2026, its second edition of the year after a June run at the same venue. Entry is ticketed and covers the live programme, while the drinks themselves are bought separately inside.
20-21 September and 5-6 November 2026
Edis, Harbiye Acikhava concerts
Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu, Istanbul
Edis plays four dates at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu in 2026: 20 and 21 September, then 5 and 6 November. The venue is an open-air amphitheatre in Sisli seating about 4,532 people, and each night is ticketed separately.
29 September 2026
Buray, Istanbul concert
Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu, Istanbul
Buray plays one Istanbul date in this run, on 29 September 2026 at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu, an open-air seated amphitheatre in Sisli holding about 4,532 people.
17 October and 7 November 2026
Sebnem Ferah, Istanbul concerts
Kucukciftlik Park (17 Oct); Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu (7 Nov), Istanbul
Sebnem Ferah plays two Istanbul dates in 2026: Kucukciftlik Park on 17 October, a standing venue holding up to about 17,000, and Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Acikhava Tiyatrosu on 7 November, a seated open-air amphitheatre of about 4,532. Same tour, two very different nights.
7-17 December 2026
Seb-i Arus (Mevlana Commemoration Ceremonies)
Konya, multiple ceremonial venues including the Mevlana Culture Center, Konya
Seb-i Arus runs 7 to 17 December 2026 in Konya, marking the 753rd anniversary of Rumi's death with the whirling dervish Sema ceremony at its centre. The main ceremonies are ticketed, much of the wider ten-day programme is free, and the ritual has been on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2008.
15-18 December 2026, its 34th edition
WorldFood Istanbul
Istanbul Fuar Merkezi (IFM), Istanbul
WorldFood Istanbul is a food and beverage trade fair, not a public festival. Its 34th edition runs 15 to 18 December 2026 at Istanbul Fuar Merkezi in Yesilkoy, and entry is by trade registration rather than a public ticket.
2027 season, exact race date not yet announced
Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul Park, Istanbul
Formula 1 returns to Istanbul Park in 2027 on a five-year agreement running through 2031, but no race date, ticket price or on-sale date has been announced yet. Anything quoting you a 2027 Turkish Grand Prix ticket price today is guessing.
Held 20-23 August 2026 in Golcuk; next edition's dates not yet announced
TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan
Golcuk Naval Shipyard Command, Kocaeli
TEKNOFEST Mavi Vatan ran 20 to 23 August 2026 at the Golcuk Naval Shipyard in Kocaeli and drew 343,000 visitors over four days by the organisers' own count. It is free to attend, and the next edition's dates have not been announced.
Early November, annually
Vodafone Istanbul Marathon
Course crosses two continents, starting near Istanbul's Asian side and finishing in the historic peninsula, Istanbul
The Vodafone Istanbul Marathon is the only marathon in the world run across two continents in one race, crossing the Bosphorus from Asia into Europe and finishing on the historic peninsula. It runs on a Sunday in early November and draws somewhere in the range of 30,000 to 40,000 participants across its three categories.
Held 1-5 April 2026; runs every spring
Adana International Orange Blossom Carnival
Adana city centre, Adana
The Adana International Orange Blossom Carnival is billed by its organisers as Turkey's first street carnival, and its 14th edition ran 1 to 5 April 2026 through central Adana. The parade and street events are free, and it is a daytime civic festival rather than a nightlife one.
Held 30 June to 13 July 2026; runs every summer
Istanbul Jazz Festival
Multiple venues across Istanbul, Istanbul
The 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival ran 30 June to 13 July 2026, with close to 30 concerts across more than ten venues and around 200 artists. It is organised by IKSV, ticketed per concert rather than by festival pass, and returns every summer.
Held 9-19 April 2026; runs every spring
Istanbul Film Festival
Cinemas across Istanbul, Istanbul
The 45th Istanbul Film Festival ran 9 to 19 April 2026 with a programme of 127 films over eleven days, screening across cinemas throughout the city. It is organised by IKSV, ticketed per screening, and returns every spring.
Held 4 June to 8 July 2026; runs every summer
International Izmir Festival
Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center, Izmir Historic Agora, Ephesus Celsus Library, Cesme Castle, Izmir
The 39th International Izmir Festival ran 4 June to 8 July 2026, staging concerts across the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center, Izmir's historic Agora, the Celsus Library at Ephesus and Cesme Castle. It is organised by IKSEV, ticketed per concert, with some events free.
Held 1-16 August 2026 at Festival Park Yenikapi; runs every summer
Istanbul Festivali (Yenikapi)
Festival Park Yenikapi, Istanbul
Istanbul Festivali ran 1 to 16 August 2026 at Festival Park Yenikapi, a 120,000 square metre waterfront site that handles around 75,000 people a day. It is run by the city rather than a single promoter, and it is ticketed per day and per artist.