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Trabzon, a city with a history stretching back 4,000 years, is once again at the heart of Türkiye’s growing cultural movement. As the sixth stop of this year’s Türkiye Culture Route Festival, Trabzon will host nearly 400 cultural and artistic events across more than 30 venues until July 13.
Blending its rich historical legacy with modern creativity, the city welcomed the nine-day celebration with an opening ceremony at the Hamamizade Ihsan Bey Culture and Arts Center.
The event marked the start of a vibrant program attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan, Governor Aziz Yildirim, MP Adil Karaismailoglu, Mayor Ahmet Metin Genc, and Festival Director Selim Terzi.
Once the provincial seat of Ottoman ruler Sultan Selim I and the birthplace of Sultan Suleiman I, Trabzon now embraces a new identity as a thriving cultural destination. With the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the festival aims to turn historical cities like Trabzon into permanent fixtures on Türkiye’s cultural map.
As Deputy Minister Alpaslan emphasized in his remarks, Trabzon occupies a special place in Türkiye’s collective memory. He noted that under the leadership of Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, the ministry is working to make the nation’s cultural heritage more visible and accessible.
“Cultural tourism is becoming increasingly popular around the world, alongside gastronomy, history, nature, and art. Türkiye is embracing a new tourism vision where culture is at the center,” he added.
The festival’s program combines traditional arts with modern interpretations. Opening-day highlights included a variety of exhibitions and screenings, such as “Living Heritage: Traditional Instruments of Trabzon,” “Miniatures of Türkiye,” and “Masters of Türkiye.”
Visitors were also invited to explore digital moving miniatures and a painting exhibition inspired by the novels of renowned Turkish author Iskender Pala.
The city’s newly restored Trabzon Museum also reopened its doors as part of the festivities. Guests toured several key exhibits, including the personal painting exhibition of artist Abdulkadir Yildirim, a collection from the Hisart Live History Museum focusing on the Turkish War of Independence, and the narrative-based “Anatolian Tale Route” exhibit.
As the events continued, Turkish singer Serkan Kaya took the stage at the Fair Center, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd. Kaya performed some of his most popular songs, receiving prolonged applause from fans, many of whom sang along and showed their appreciation throughout the concert.
The Türkiye Culture Route Festival, launched by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is designed to showcase the country’s cultural wealth through international art formats. As the festival expands across multiple cities, its goal is to enhance its brand value while making culture and art more accessible to wider audiences.
Now recognized as one of the world’s largest cultural festivals, the initiative has also joined the European Festivals Association, further strengthening its global reputation. Throughout this week, the people of Trabzon and visitors alike will experience concerts, workshops, talks, culinary events, and activities for all ages, reinforcing the city’s identity as a cultural crossroads of history, creativity, and community.
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