Art attack: What to see in Istanbul this week

Istanbul is hosting a wide range of cultural and artistic events this week, from theater and concerts to exhibitions that remain open into 2027. The city is divided by the Bosphorus Strait into a European side and an Asian side.

A visitor examines photographs displayed at an exhibition associated with KADEM Sanat's "Perceptions of Beauty" photography competition in Türkiye, Oct. 24, 2026. (AA Photo)

Theater

Istanbul State Theaters will stage four productions across the city:

• “Sumud (Gaza)” (“Sumud (Gazze)”), Oct. 30-31, Kucukcekmece CKSM (western European side†)
• “There Is Actually No Spoon” (“Aslinda Kasik Yok”), Oct. 30-31, AKM Theater Hall (Taksim, central European side†)
• “I Think the Murderer Killed” (“Bence Katil Oldurdu”), Oct. 27-31, Mecidiyekoy Main Stage (European side†)
• “Suspended” (“Muallak”), Oct. 27-31, Mecidiyekoy Studio Stage

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Theaters will present six productions from Oct. 28 to 31:

• “Gidion’s Knot” (“Gidion’un Dugumu”), Muze Gazhane Meydan Stage
• “Stay for Breakfast” (“Kahvaltiya Kalsana”), Uskudar Musahipzade Celal Stage (Asian side†)
• “The Labeled Coffin” (“Yaftali Tabut”), Uskudar Kerem Yilmazer Stage
• “Oscar,” Kagithane Sadabad Stage (northern European side†)
• “The Legend of Mount Ararat” (“Agri Dagi Efsanesi”), Umraniye Stage (Asian side†)
• “War and Peace” (“Savas ve Baris”), Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage (European side†)

“Father” (“Baba”), a one-act play lasting 85 minutes, will be performed Oct. 26-27 at the Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage, a performing arts venue in the Besiktas district on the European side.† “Leaves” (“Yapraklar”), written by Andreas Flourakis, will be staged Oct. 29 at the Tiyatro Keyfi Lab-Savas Basar Stage. “Madonna in a Fur Coat” (“Kurk Mantolu Madonna”), adapted from the novel of the same name by Sabahattin Ali, will be performed Oct. 27 at Taksim Chamber Theater.

Musicians from Strauss Philharmonie perform a classical music concert featuring theatrical stage elements at Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM) in Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 13, 2026. (AA Photo)

Concerts

The Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble will perform the “Vefa Heritage and New Era Concert” (“Vefa Miras ve Yeni Donem Konseri”) Oct. 27 at the AKM Theater Hall. The TRT Istanbul Radio Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Cem Tuncer, will give the first concert of its new season Oct. 28 at the same venue.

Other concerts this week:

• Oct. 28: Bekir Unluataer, “The Last Century” (“Gecen Yuzyil”), Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage
• Oct. 28: rock band Duman, Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater
• Oct. 28: pop singer Soner Arica, Jolly Joker Vadistanbul
• Oct. 28 and 30: “Whirling Dervish Ceremony” (“Semazen Toreni”), Kasimpasa Mevlevi Lodge (Beyoglu district, European side†)
• Oct. 30: Ozan Musluoglu Quintet, Zorlu PSM
• Oct. 30: rock band Bulutsuzluk Ozlemi, Kadikoy Stage (Asian side†)
• Oct. 31: Kerem Gorsev Trio, Zorlu PSM
• Oct. 31: “Musa Gocmen SenfoRock Metallica,” presenting the works of rock band Metallica in symphonic arrangements, AKM Turk Telekom Opera Hall
• Nov. 1: cellist Jodok Vuille’s “Jodok Cello” project, which interprets classical music in a contemporary and cinematic style, AKM Turk Telekom Opera Hall

Visitors view paintings by Turkish artist Nese Erdok during an exhibition of her recent works at Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum in Istanbul, Türkiye, Oct. 23, 2026. (AA Photo)

Exhibitions

“The Absolute Just” (“Adil-i Mutlak”), a calligraphy exhibition built around the concept of justice through works by Albayrak Group, is open until Nov. 1 at Gungoren Performance Center (western European side†). It is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Gungoren Municipality as part of the Türkiye Culture Road Festival.

“13th Element” (“13. Element”), prepared by ASASSANAT, features works by 29 artists exploring aluminum in contemporary sculpture. It remains open until Nov. 10 at the Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum.

Other exhibitions on view:

• “Verses of the Sultanate” (“Saltanat Dizeleri”), pairing the poetry of Ottoman sultans with calligraphy and illumination, until Nov. 1, Dolmabahce Palace Art Gallery (Bosphorus shore, European side†)
• “Serif Muhiddin Targan Exhibition” (“Serif Muhiddin Targan Sergisi”), made up of personal belongings of the oud and cello virtuoso, composer and painter, until Dec. 9, Beyazit Manuscripts Library (historic peninsula, European side†)
• “Domestic Industry, International Reputation” (“Yerli Sanayi, Uluslararasi Itibar”), prepared for the 100th anniversary of the Koc Group, until Feb. 7, 2027, Rahmi M. Koc Museum
• “Little Hungary” (“Kucuk Macaristan”), by photographer Ara Guler, until Feb. 12, 2027, Hungarian Cultural Center
• “There Is No Later. Later Is Now.” (“Sonra yok. Sonrasi simdi.”), an Arter group exhibition drawn from its collection that addresses the idea of the end of the world in existential, ecological and political terms, until March 28, 2027

An exhibition of works on Gaza by Azerbaijani artist Aybeniz Zeynalova and “The Burden of Humanity: Decolonization Today” (“Insanligin Yuku: Dekolonizasyonun Bugunu”), organized by the NUN Education and Culture Foundation with the Istanbul Governorship, are on view at Rami Library.

October 27, 2026 07:07 AM GMT+03:00