How to read this calendar
Two organisers come up often. The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) runs the big paid festivals: film, music, jazz, the art biennial, theatre. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) announced a programme of 19 free festivals for 2026, spread across the districts. For most paid festivals, tickets are sold online, often on passo.com.tr, and the most popular concerts sell out fast.
Spring: tulips, film and the marathon
April: the tulip festival
Every April, millions of bulbs bloom in the city's parks, and entry is free. Our page on the Istanbul tulip festival gives the parks and dates.
April: the Istanbul International Film Festival
The Istanbul Film Festival (İKSV) takes place every year in April in the city's cinemas. The 45th edition ran from 9 to 19 April 2026. Screenings are paid.
April: half marathon and Children's Day
The İş Bankası half marathon was run on 19 April 2026 in the historic peninsula (registration required). Children's Day on 23 April is also the occasion for free festivals for families, according to the 2026 municipal programme.
Summer: music, jazz and free festivals
June: the Istanbul Music Festival
The Istanbul Music Festival (İKSV), centred on classical music, held its 54th edition in mid-June 2026, in historic venues across the city. Concerts are paid.
Late June to mid-July: the jazz festival
The Istanbul Jazz Festival takes place every summer; the 33rd edition ran from 30 June to mid-July 2026, with nearly 30 concerts. Tickets are sold on passo.com.tr.
July and August: the municipality's free festivals
According to the 2026 programme announced by the municipality, several free festivals take place in summer: an international choir festival (9 to 12 July), the SinemADA film festival on the Princes' Islands (22 to 26 July), then a digital art and electronic music festival and percussion days in mid-August. Detailed programmes are published by the municipality.
Autumn: chamber music, theatre, the biennial and the marathon
September: chamber music and jazz on the islands
The international chamber music festival ran from 1 to 20 September 2026; the jazz festival on the Princes' Islands (Adalar'da Caz) from 18 to 20 September, free according to the municipal programme. See our Princes' Islands page.
September to November: the Istanbul Biennial
The Istanbul contemporary art biennial (İKSV) takes place every two years. The 18th edition began in September 2025 and continues in 2026. The 19th is announced for 18 September to 14 November 2027.
October: Filmekimi and the theatre festival
According to 2026 listings, the Filmekimi contemporary cinema week takes place in October in several venues, followed by the Istanbul Theatre Festival from October to November. Tickets are paid.
November: the Istanbul Marathon
The Istanbul Marathon, which links Asia to Europe across the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, is run in early November; the 2026 edition was announced for 1 November. See our page on the Istanbul Marathon.
Ramadan and religious holidays
Ramadan and the holidays around it, which follow the lunar calendar and shift by about ten days each year, change the atmosphere of the city. See our page on Ramadan in Istanbul.
Summary table
| Month | Event | Organiser | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| April | Tulip festival | Municipality | Free |
| April | Istanbul Film Festival | İKSV | Paid |
| June | Istanbul Music Festival | İKSV | Paid |
| Late June to mid-July | Jazz festival | İKSV | Paid |
| July | Free festivals (choirs, cinema on the islands) | Municipality | Free |
| September | Chamber music, jazz on the islands | Municipality | Free |
| September 2027 | Istanbul Biennial | İKSV | Varies |
| October | Filmekimi, theatre | İKSV | Paid |
| November | Istanbul Marathon | Registration | Registration |
Practical tips
- Book early for jazz and music festival concerts: tickets open several months in advance, and priority sales are reserved for holders of the İKSV Tulip Card.
- Accommodation: late June and early July, April and marathon days are busy periods; see our guide to where to stay in Istanbul.
- Choosing your season: our guide to the best time to visit Istanbul combines weather, crowds and events.
- After the concert: for an evening out, see our guide to Istanbul nightlife.
- Check: dates change every year; the official sources are the İKSV and Istanbul Municipality websites.
Going further
To build a trip around an event, our Istanbul in 3 days itinerary groups the main visits, and the free things to do in Istanbul complement the programme of free festivals.
