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Türkiye will provide free public transportation on Jan 1, 2026, as part of nationwide New Year’s Day arrangements, covering all services operated by the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry as well as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
A presidential decree published in the Official Gazette confirmed that rail systems under the ministry, including Marmaray, Gayrettepe–Istanbul Airport–Arnavutkoy metro, Sirkeci–Kazlicesme rail line, Baskentray in Ankara, and IZBAN in Izmir, will operate free of charge from 12 a.m. to 11.59 p.m. on Jan. 1.
In addition to central government lines, city-run networks in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir will also follow the traditional public holiday policy of waiving fares. In Istanbul, all municipal transport services, including IETT buses, Metro Istanbul lines, trams, and Sehir Hatlari ferries, will be free for passengers with personalized Istanbulkart smartcards.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has announced a large-scale operational plan to manage anticipated crowds on New Year’s Eve. The city will deploy 680 additional trips, comprising 370 extra bus and 310 extra metrobus services during the night of Dec. 31 to Jan. 1.
To accommodate continuous travel, 24-hour metro service will be in place on ten key lines:
M1A, M1B, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, and M9.
Tram lines T1, T3, T4, and T5 as well as funicular routes F1 and F4 will continue operations until 2 a.m. on Jan. 1. Ferry services operated by Sehir Hatlari will run additional trips in response to real-time passenger volumes.
Authorities noted that backup vehicles will be stationed at central hubs to support areas with high travel demand.
To ensure public safety, the city will deploy its municipal police, fire brigade, and emergency medical teams across key locations.
Fire and rescue services will be fully staffed to respond to potential incidents, and ambulance units will remain on standby at health stations throughout the night.
Municipal police will inspect the city from the night of Dec. 31 to the morning of Jan. 1 and take action if any rules are broken.
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