Festivals in Istanbul

Festivals in Istanbul

Often termed as the bridge between East and West, Istanbul is one of the favorite cities among the Globetrotters that make them visit the city again and again. If you are in the city for any reason, you must not miss the decorated festivals, which takes place in the city throughout the year. The modern form of festivals, with the advent of globalization, has turned this gathering into a global multicultural, multinational and multi-linguistic form of gathering and the festivals in Istanbul are living proof of this. Festivals in Istanbul are also an ecstasy to the visitors and the locals as they give the large platforms to the emerging talents and also maintain a subtle balance between modernity and the area’s tradition. In summers, the city is filled with a number of music festivals of various music forms like rock, jazz, classic and even metal. The Pamukbank Dance Days bring world-famous dance groups to Istanbul. The city is also known for hosting a unique Istanbul Coffee festival, known for featuring different flavors of coffee from the best coffee plants across the globe and is described as the second biggest of its kind. The Istanbul Coffee festival has also witnessed a whopping of over 50,000 visitors, which made it one of the largest festivals in the globe. 

Traditional festivals in Istanbul

Turkey hosts more than 1,000 festivals every year with most of them being traditional. These traditional festivals in Istanbul are the real sustainers of the city. The traditional and cultural festivals of Istanbul are the places where locals explore their inner-self and their history. These festivals are also known for attracting a pool of tourists from every corner of the earth where they can colour their holidays with different cultural activities. The Sarigerme Kite Festival is one such event, organized by Sarıgerme village headman and the Sarıgerme Environment, Culture and Education Association (SARÇED) creates a scene of intense kite fighting, and the hotels in the region contribute free food to people. The Istanbul Coffee festivals also counted as one of the major traditional festivals of the city. 

International Festivals In Istanbul

Nothing is left untouched from globalization and so does the festivals of Istanbul. The traditional festivals although draw a large crowd but the showcasing of global talent is done in festivals of entertainment media. The success story of the Istanbul International Film Festivals is really inspiring, presents awards to films and persons from most of the countries. The festival is organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Art and takes place in April every year. Alongside this, the city also hosts a highly prestigious music festival called the Istanbul Rooftop Festival as a classic autumn event that offers to explore 15 different venues with a single ticket. The festival got a ‘rooftop’ in its name as it hosts many performances in the terrace. Most of these festivals are sponsored and organized by big corporates, owing to which they receive sums of investment every year. This has also helped the city to become one of the fastest growing cosmopolitan centers.