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Istanbul will celebrate National Sovereignty and Children's Day on April 23 with a massive lineup of cultural and educational events. Music, technology, and art will fill the city to honor the youth of Turkiye.
Local and international participants will meet at historic venues and modern centers to commemorate this traditional holiday.
At the Ataturk Cultural Center, the State Folk Dance Ensemble will perform "Footsteps of the Future" (Gelecegin Ayak Sesleri), highlighting the energy of youth through traditional dance and professional choreography.
The venue will also host the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and the Besiktas Children's Choir. Led by conductor Hasan Niyazi Tura and choir leader Gunes Kaya, their performance will focus on themes of "hope and the future" to inspire the young audience.
The celebrations continue at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater with a broad international program. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Children's Choir and Youth Folk Dance Ensemble will perform alongside visiting children from Georgia, Serbia, and Ossetia. To entertain the crowd, the stage will feature popular characters like "King Sakir" (Kral Sakir) and "Super Wings" (Harika Kanatlar), followed by a live concert by singer Ece Mumay.
For a unique holiday experience, the historic Kastel Building will host a candlelight concert under the "Candela Kids" concept, featuring "Republic Songs" (Cumhuriyet Sarkilari).
Rahmi M. Koc Museum (Rahmi M. Koc Muzesi) is offering a diverse range of activities that combine maritime history with modern engineering. These programs will allow children to explore the Golden Horn (Halic) while developing new skills:
Galataport Istanbul is organizing the Ozmo Children's Festival (Ozmo Cocuk Senligi) at Dogus Square with similar interactive goals.
Children will participate in workshops and competitions throughout the day.
The "Dance Battle" competition also returns for its third year to showcase the talents of the Istanbul Street Dance community.
Suna and Inan Kirac Foundation Pera Museum will offer free admission for the holiday to encourage cultural participation.
It will host a play titled "The Tragic Comedy of Federico Garcia Lorca" (Federico Garcia Lorca'nin Acikli Guldurusu) by the BGST Theater.
A special performance will take place on the floor of the exhibition "Intersecting Worlds: Ambassadors and Painters" (Kesisen Dunyalar: Elciler ve Ressamlar). This event blends theater with fine art, giving children aged 10 and older a chance to experience the collection in a new way.
Digital art is the focus of the project "I Thought I Saw a Cat" (Bi' Kedi Gordum Sanki). Children will design digital works that will be displayed on large LED screens for the public to see.
The famous cats of Kadikoy are also in the spotlight through the lens of a child's imagination. Meanwhile, Duru Theater (Duru Tiyatro) will present the play "Detective Dog Dodo" (Dedektif Kopek Dodo), a story about the will to make dreams come true.
Local municipalities are also moving these celebrations to open spaces and parks, making sure the art and stories reach as many people as possible.
Beylikduzu Municipality will organize its 11th Children's Festival across various parks and forests to ensure every child has access to sports and technology activities.
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