Newsletters
The 95th edition of the Izmir International Fair (IEF) opened its doors this year, organized by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade, under the slogan "The Fair at the Heart of the City."
At the opening ceremony, the Izmir Chamber Orchestra's string ensemble performed a musical concert, followed by a zeybek dance show (a traditional folk dance from western Türkiye).
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay said in his speech at the ceremony that they were proud to open the fair for the 95th time.
Tugay noted that the foundation of the fair was laid in 1923 with the Domestic Goods Sample Exhibition held as part of the Izmir Economic Congress, and that the fair has been held at Kulturpark since 1936.
Tugay said that fair organizing in Izmir has always gone hand in hand with production and trade. Looking at the share fairs hold in the city's economy today, he said one can see the value the Izmir International Fair creates not just for Izmir but for Türkiye as a whole.
He noted that in the first six months of 2026, more than 2,500 international participating companies met in Izmir across 12 specialized fairs held in the city.
According to Tugay, the city hosted more than 900,000 visitors from all 81 provinces of Türkiye and more than 100 countries during these fairs. "The impact of the fairs benefited our entire city, from hotels to restaurants, from transportation to small businesses," he said.
The mayor emphasized that Izmir's strength would be carried much further when the central government, local governments, the business world, and sector representatives act together toward a common goal, and said the city's production and logistics capabilities would contribute to Türkiye's trade vision.
Tarik Sonmez, the Ministry of Trade's Director General of International Trade in Services, conveyed the well wishes of Trade Minister Omer Bolat, who could not attend the ceremony due to a busy schedule.
Sonmez noted that the fair is one of the symbols carrying the Turkish trade and fair-organizing tradition into the future. ''The fair opens the doors to a great gathering that brings together the rising power of the Century of Türkiye in production, exports and trade with the spirit of Izmir," he added.
He described Izmir as "the shining star of the Aegean," adding that the fair's reach from the city to the world is also a strong indicator of Türkiye's march toward new horizons in trade and fair organizing and its will to secure a stronger place in the global market.
He added that the fair is not merely a commercial space but also carries the character of a social gathering point where culture, art and entertainment come together.
Following the speeches, protocol members cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the fair. The fair, which will run until Sept. 13 at Kulturpark, will host concerts, theater performances, stage shows, exhibitions, children's and youth activities, and street performances.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
