Istanbul hosts vibrant week of music, theater, and art exhibitions
City’s cultural calendar features international performances, jazz festival, and landmark exhibitions
ISTANBUL, Türkiye (MNTV) — Istanbul’s cultural scene is in full swing this week, with a packed lineup of concerts, theater productions, and art exhibitions across some of the city’s most iconic venues.
The Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) will stage the Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra’s performance of Romeo and Juliet on Sept. 26–27, followed by Les Misérables on Sept. 28.
The play Aydınlıkevler will be performed Sept. 24 at Maximum Uniq Open Air. Zorlu Performing Arts Center (Zorlu PSM) also features a diverse program, including Masonn (Walls) on Sept. 25, and two productions on Sept. 28: Güne Bakan Cam Kırıkları and The Miser. ENKA Sanat presents Valse, Valse, Valse on Sept. 24.
Music fans have much to anticipate. At Zorlu PSM, British indie band Barry Can’t Swim takes the stage Sept. 26, followed by German metal legends Blind Guardian on Sept. 27.
The 35th Akbank Jazz Festival continues with performances by the Nilüfer Verdi Trio and Ilhan Erşahin’s Istanbul Sessions on Sept. 27, and Maya Perest, Kind of Six, and Cosimo and The Hot Coals on Sept. 28 at Babylon.
The Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater will host Mario Frangoulis on Sept. 24, singer Candan Erçetin’s 30th anniversary concerts on Sept. 24–25, Erol Evgin on Sept. 26, Dire Straits Legacy on Sept. 27, and Gipsy Kings by Andre Reyes on Sept. 28.
Turkish stars Cengiz Kurtoğlu and Bülent Ersoy will perform on Sept. 26–27 at Masal Ataşehir. At AKM, the TRT Istanbul Radio Light Music and Jazz Orchestra appears on Sept. 24, followed by Levent Yüksel on Sept. 27 and rapper Ceza on Sept. 28.
In the visual arts, the “Tek ve Çok” exhibition curated by Ayşegül Ekin Odabaşı is on view at the Nusret Çolpan Art Gallery, while the Türkiye İş Bankası Painting and Sculpture Museum presents “Side by Side” through July 2026.
The Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum continues with “The Academy Era,” the second chapter of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University’s historical exhibition series.
Marking 100 years of Türkiye–Japan diplomatic ties, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum in Sultanahmet showcases Japanese ceramics from the Idemitsu Art Museum Collection.
At Dolmabahçe Palace, the Goodness for Gaza exhibition — organized by the National Palaces Directorate and the Turkish Red Crescent — features historical works in support of Palestinians.
Other highlights include Robert Capa’s photography exhibition The Truth Is the Best Photo at the Yapı Kredi Bomontiada Ara Güler Museum, Feelings in Common and A Verse, Written with Earth, Fire, Water, and Air at Pera Museum, and American artist Suzanne Lacy’s first solo exhibition in Türkiye at the Sakıp Sabancı Museum.
Arter presents Nilbar Güreş’s Velvet Gaze, while Galata Tower continues with In the Same Spirit Since Hezarfen until Oct. 1. Istanbul Bilgi University’s Santralistanbul Energy Museum is hosting Istanbul’s Bright 100 until Nov. 21.
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