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Istanbul · Ankara · Antalya

Things to do in Turkey this week

Events, shows and openings, checked every morning, Kuwait time.

Today, Thursday 5 November 13 events

Turkiye Culture Route Festival, Antalya, a previous editionFestivalFree Turkiye Culture Route Festival, AntalyaDaily until Sun 8 NovKonyaalti Beach Park and venues across the city and ancient sites, AntalyaFreeFree beach concerts, ancient-city tours and a kids' village in Antalya all this week.
Installation view: a large colourful sun painting, a textile collage and glass cases of objects in a white gallery hallExhibitionFree Imprints on the Century: Koc Group and the ArtsDaily until Sun 29 NovYapi Kredi Culture and Arts (Yapi Kredi Kultur Sanat), IstanbulFreeA free walk through 100 years of Turkish art, design and memory, right on Istiklal Avenue; last weeks.
An old painting of a greased-pole competition on the Bosphorus, with rowing boats and a steamship, in the museum's first exhibitionExhibitionFree Istanbul Bosphorus Museum: A Bosphorus StoryDaily until Sun 11 Apr · Closed on MondayIstanbul Bosphorus Museum, Kabatas Transfer Centre (2nd floor), IstanbulFreeA brand-new free museum about life on the Bosphorus, right where the ferries leave Kabatas.
A young woman in a traditional Turkic velvet robe and embroidered hat walks the red carpet of the Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, with guests in traditional coats behind herFestivalFree 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film FestivalDaily until Sat 7 NovAtlas Cinema (opening), AKM Yesilcam Cinema, Emek Cinema and other halls; closing at AKM, IstanbulFreeFive days of free cinema in Istanbul's historic Beyoglu halls, from 3 to 7 November.
A sultan's tughra and illuminated manuscripts in the new Calligraphy MuseumOpening Five new museums at Topkapi Palace: Darphane-i Amire MuseumsDaily until Thu 31 Dec · Closed on TuesdayDarphane-i Amire (Ottoman Imperial Mint), first courtyard of Topkapi Palace, IstanbulFrom TL 2,750Five brand-new museums inside Topkapi Palace, open since 25 October, with sultans' arms, porcelain and maps.
Whirling dervishes turning in the sema ceremony on the Hodjapasha stage, with the musicians behind themCulture Whirling Dervishes Sema Ceremony at Hodjapasha7:00 PMHodjapasha Culture Centre, IstanbulFrom TL 1,200Rumi's whirling dervishes every evening in a 550-year-old hammam, minutes from Sultanahmet.
Collection paintings on a blue wall in the Beneath the Same Blue exhibition at Istanbul ModernExhibition Beneath the Same BlueDaily until Fri 31 Dec · Closed on MondayIstanbul Modern, IstanbulFrom TL 1,000Eighty years of Turkish and world art in Renzo Piano's glass museum on the Bosphorus.
Visitors among glowing lights on the Astra Lumina Istanbul forest trailFamily Astra Lumina Istanbul night walk7:00 PMTurkcell Platinum Park, IstanbulFrom TL 1,200A magical starlit forest walk the whole family can enjoy after dinner.
Detail of Semiha Berksoy's 1979 opera painting: Tosca in a green dress and big black hat on a red background, beside a white mask with a black moustacheExhibition Semiha Berksoy: Aria of All ColorsDaily until Sun 22 Nov · Closed on MondayIstanbul Modern, IstanbulFrom TL 1,000Last weeks for the colourful world of Turkiye's first opera diva, inside Istanbul Modern.
Yoko Ono's installation Morning Beams and Riverbed: white cords falling over river stones, at the exhibition's first showing at MUSAC in Leon, SpainExhibition Yoko Ono: Insound and InstructureDaily until Sun 27 Dec · Closed on MondaySakip Sabanci Museum (SSM), IstanbulFrom TL 450A world-famous artist's playful, hands-on show in a garden villa on the Bosphorus.
Stage scene from Lacrima by Caroline Guiela Nguyen, on the 30th Istanbul Theatre Festival programme: seamstresses in white coats at work in a couture workshop set under the stage lightsFestival 30th Istanbul Theatre FestivalDaily until Thu 3 Dec17 venues across the city, including AKM, Zorlu PSM, Arter and Leyla Gencer Opera and Arts Centre, IstanbulPriced per show; some side events (Festival Arti) are free.Six weeks of world-class theatre and dance, with non-verbal dance shows anyone can enjoy.
Frank Bowling's Map painting with three outlines of South America, shown in the exhibitionExhibition Frank Bowling: Creation and DestructionDaily until Sun 31 Jan · Closed on MondayPera Museum, IstanbulFrom TL 450Huge colour-filled paintings next to Francis Bacon, a short walk from Istiklal Street.
Archive photo from the show: a press photographer in a hat aims his box camera from a wooden hatch, with an iron railing behind him, Istanbul, 1930sExhibition Behind the Camera of the RepublicDaily until Sun 28 Mar · Closed on MondayPera Museum, IstanbulFrom TL 450Rare press photos of everyday Istanbul from the 1920s to the 1950s; free entry on Friday evenings.

Coming up in November

Ragheb Alama in concertConcert Ragheb Alama in concertSun 15 Nov9:00 PMAtaturk Cultural Centre (AKM), Turk Telekom Opera Hall, IstanbulFrom TL 3,950Ragheb Alama in Istanbul's grandest opera hall, a perfect way to stretch a Gulf weekend.
Luka Sulic playing an electric cello on stage, eyes closedConcert Luka Sulic: Life TourThu 26 Nov8:30 PMZorlu PSM, Turkcell Platinum Stage, IstanbulFrom TL 1,995The 2CELLOS star's first solo shows in Turkey; 27 November sold out, so this 26 November night was added.
Poster: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in ConcertFamily Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in ConcertSat 28 Nov3:00 PMVolkswagen Arena, IstanbulFrom TL 2,995A full orchestra plays Harry Potter live, in English, with a 3 PM show for kids.
Fenerbahce v Anadolu Efes, EuroLeague basketball derby, a previous editionSport Fenerbahce v Anadolu Efes, EuroLeague basketball derbyThu 10 Dec8:45 PMUlker Sports and Event Hall, IstanbulPrices not yet announced by the club.Istanbul's basketball derby in Europe's top league, warm and indoors.
The band Altin GunConcert Altin Gun liveFri 13 Nov9:30 PMVolkswagen Arena, IstanbulFrom TL 1,750Old Anatolian folk songs reborn as dance-floor rock, a very Istanbul night out.
Black and white close portrait of Nilufer with long dark hair, from her official music videoConcert Nilufer in concertSat 14 Nov9:00 PMBostanci Showland (Bostanci Show Centre), IstanbulFrom TL 3,360One of Turkey's best-loved pop voices for five decades, live on a Saturday night in Istanbul.
Portrait of Sibel CanConcert Sibel Can in concertMon 23 Nov9:00 PMZorlu PSM, Turkcell Stage, IstanbulFrom TL 1,836.5A legend of Turkish music on Zorlu PSM's main stage on a Monday night.
NDT 2 dancers in dark costumes raising their arms together on stage in Marco Goecke's The Big Crying, one of the three works in the programmeTheatre Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT 2) at the Istanbul Theatre FestivalFri 27 Nov8:30 PMZorlu PSM, Turkcell Stage, IstanbulFrom TL 950One of the world's top dance companies returns to Istanbul after a long absence, for two nights only.
An author signing copies of her book at the Istanbul Book Fair, 2025Culture International Istanbul Book FairSat 12 Dec to Sun 20 DecDailyTuyap Fair and Congress Centre, IstanbulEntry by online registration on the fair site; price not stated. It is far from the centre, so allow about an hour by car.Halls full of books and author signings, a nice outing for reading families.
Portrait of Souad MassiConcert Souad Massi in concertWed 18 Nov9:30 PMZorlu PSM, Turkcell Stage, IstanbulFrom TL 730North Africa's softest Arabic voice, at a very friendly price, inside Zorlu Center.
Musicians with a flugelhorn and a double bass on stage at the Ankara Jazz Festival, previous edition (2022)Festival 30th International Ankara Jazz FestivalMon 16 Nov to Mon 30 NovDailyAnkara HiltonSA (opening), ODTU KKM (closing nights) and other halls across Ankara, AnkaraPriced per concert; the Festival Young Stage concert on 22 November is free. Opens Monday 16 November with a press opening and awards evening.Two weeks of jazz in the capital for the festival's 30th birthday, from 16 November.

Dates, times and prices as published by the organisers, checked on Wednesday 4 November. Things change, so check again before you travel. We do not sell tickets.

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