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Türkiye's Culture Route Festival returns in 2026 with its largest footprint yet, spanning 26 cities and 234 days from April 25 in Sanliurfa to Nov. 15 in Adana, a significant expansion from the 20-city, 180-day edition held in 2025.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the program, noting that the festival, which began in 2021 as the Beyoglu Culture Route Festival with 80 venues and more than 2,000 artists, has since grown into what he described as an international cultural brand.
Türkiye applied the new name "Türkiye Culture Route Festival" as its reach extended beyond Istanbul.
Six cities join the 2026 calendar for the first time: Aydin, Eskisehir, Kahramanmaras, Mersin, Ordu, and Sakarya. The festival is a member of the European Festivals Association. Ersoy said that by 2027, the event is expected to reach 32 cities with the addition of Balikesir, Denizli, Hatay, Kocaeli, Mugla, and Tekirdag.
A new gastronomy initiative will run alongside the 2026 edition. Advisory councils made up of culinary experts will be established in each participating city to identify leading local flavors and dining routes.
Each city will also designate a "city chef", a culinary figure responsible for contributing to event programming and representing the city's food heritage.
Workshops, tasting events, and local-produce showcases featuring chefs are planned as part of the broader effort to introduce Türkiye's culinary culture to wider audiences.
The festival calendar and full details are available at kulturyolufestivali.com and through the @turkiye_kulturyolu Instagram account.
Events, including concerts, exhibitions, theater, opera, ballet, contemporary dance, talks, and workshops, will be offered free of charge.
The 2026 edition includes dedicated programming for children: workshops, stage performances, theater, interactive play areas, and educational programs. Open-air play areas and children's villages are also planned.
Ersoy pointed to the festival's economic effects on host cities, saying: "The events we hold over nine days make a major contribution to the local economy.
Our local businesses do nearly three months' worth of business in that period. The economy of our provinces is significantly revitalized thanks to both local residents and visitors coming from outside the city."
In 2025, the festival hosted 9,645 events featuring 50,400 artists across 20 cities over 180 days.
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