Istanbul turns up the curtain on a packed week of arts

From a landmark opera premiere to student theater and citywide exhibitions, Istanbul offers a full week of cultural programming across its major venues.

Take your seats

Istanbul Municipal Theater presents student productions as part of the 40th Young Days festival, featuring works staged by students from universities such as Sfrom various universities, includingabanci, Galatasaray, and Mar

Istanbul State Theater runs "Fugitives" at the Mecidiyekoy Grand Stage from May 19 to 22. At Zorlu Performing Arts Center (Zorlu PSM), the week's program includes:

• "Mudahale" on May 19
• "Giants' War" on May 20
• "Death of a Salesman" from May 20 to 22

A landmark farewell also takes place this week: "The Trees Die Standing," adapted from Spanish playwright Alejandro Casona's 1949 work, stages its 500th and final performance at Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM) on May 24.

The production has earned actress Nevra Serezli 11 awards over its run.

A night at the opera

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet opens the 17th International Istanbul Opera and Ballet Festival on May 21 with the world premiere of Gaetano Donizetti's three-act opera "Lucia di Lammermoor" at AKM. The production repeats on May 23.

The Antalya State Symphony Orchestra (ADSO) at the Aspendos Hall of the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) (AA Photo)

Mic check

AKM hosts a dense concert schedule throughout the week:

• May 19 – The Istanbul State Turkish Folk Music Choir performs a concert marking Youth and Sports Day, followed by the State Folk Dance Ensemble with "Voice of the Earth"
• May 20 – Istanbul Sufi Ceremonies Ensemble holds a Sema ceremony
• May 23 – Flutist Nihan Atalay Curti and pianist Isaac Friedhoff-Calvo perform as part of the Turk Telekom Prime Coffee Concerts series; artist Fatih Erkoc, saxophonist and composer Anil Salliel and jazz vocalist Selen Beytekin also take the stage
• May 24 – Fire of Anatolia closes out the week with its signature folk-dance performance

Elsewhere in the city:

• Singer Yalin performs at Volkswagen Arena from May 22 to 24
• Actress and performer Berguzar Korel brings her concert "As I Remember" to Zorlu PSM on May 20

At Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theater, the lineup is as follows:

• May 19 – Funda Arar and Kubat
• May 21 – Dus Sokagi Sakinleri
• May 22–23 – Sibel Can

• May 24 – Erkan Ogur, Ismail Hakki Demircioglu and Erdal Erzincan

  

  

  A press preview of the “Catherine I” exhibition in St. Petersburg, Russia. (AA Photo)

Frame by frame

Several exhibitions are currently on view or opening this week:

• "Curtain" – A retrospective covering more than 30 years of work by painter and Bagimsiz Sanat Vakfi founder Hulya Yazici, on view at Dolmabahce Resim Muzesi Huseyin Zekai Pasa Sergi Salonu through May 31
• "Play Again" – Artist Dr. Rahsan Duren's selection, timed to coincide with the Venice Biennale, opens at Tarhan Han on May 20
• Kuzu & Cirpici – Interior designer Atilla Kuzu and architect Levent Cirpici present aluminum profile works at Goba Art & Design through June 6
• "Art of Travel" – Organized by Mesher and Sadberk Hanim Muzesi to mark the Koc Group's 100th anniversary, on view at Mesher through May 23, 2027
• ArtıKUME 2025 & ODAK – Organized by Kultur Medeniyet Vakfi at Karakoy Palas, continues through June 17
• "Tulipomania" – On view through Aug. 30 at Istanbul Lale Muzesi's temporary gallery
• "Texture" – Ceramicist Seyma Balci and her students, at Kuzguncuk Kultur Evi through May 23
• "Celestial Dome" – Artist and academic Nevzat Yildirim's exhibition, open by appointment at Yildiz Holding Seminar Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through July 26
• "Circle of Abundance" – Prepared for the 1,500th Islamic calendar anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad's birth, at Mimar Sinan Gallery through June 21
• "Letters from Gaza" – Supported by the Presidential Communications Directorate and Okcular Vakfi, on view at Uskudar Meydani through June 2

May 19, 2026 06:22 AM GMT+03:00