Festivals in Republic of Turkey

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More than 100 festivals are held in Turkey every year. Along with festivals of local scale held in almost every city of the country, cultural events and other festivals of international reach are also organized in major metropolitan centers such as İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Antalya.

İstanbul is the most important center of festivals. In the summer months, a number of music festivals are held in İstanbul. Many are organized by and associated with prominent names in Turkey's private sector. The Pamukbank Dance Days brings world famous dance groups to İstanbul. The Efes Pilsen Blues Festival, which celebrated its 10th year in 2006, hosts well-known blues and jazz groups. The Akbank International Jazz Festival provides the opportunity of improvisation and jam sessions between Turkish musicians and jazz masters of the world. The Yapı Kredi Art Festival with its concerts ranging from rock and roll and pop music to classical music and jazz is actually a series of events around the year. Fuji Film World Music Days is yet another important music festival.

İzmir is notable for hosting the oldest festival activity in Turkey, within the frame of multi-theme İzmir International Fair held in the first days of September, and organized by İZFAŞ, a depending company of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. The musical and other cultural events that take place at the same time as the commercial fair had started out as an auxiliary activity to attract popular interest for the fair, but over the years the festival became a school by itself.

Major Festivals
International 23 April Child Festivity (Ankara)
International Ankara Film Festival 16th
International Ankara Music Festival
International Ankara Cartoon Festival
Bilkent International Theater Meeting (Ankara)
Bilkent International Anatolia Music Festival (Ankara)
International Istanbul Film Festival 25th
International Istanbul Theater Festival
Istanbul International Music Festival
Istanbul International Jazz Festival 12th
International Istanbul Biennial
Barışarock
Rock'n Coke
İzmir International Fair 73rd ; 1 September - 10 September
İzmir European Jazz Festival
İzmir Alacati International Child and Youth Theaters Festival
İzmir Fair International Folk Dances Festival
Cesme Sea Festivity and International Song Contest (İzmir)
Nasreddin Hodja Festivities (Konya)
Mevlana Memorial Celebrations (Konya)
International Pamukkale Music and Culture Festival (Denizli)
International Amateur Theaters Festival (Denizli)
Traditional Manisa Mesir Festival
Yunus Emre Culture and Art Week (Eskişehir)
International Eskişehir Festival 11th
International Bursa Festival
Adıyaman International Commagene Festival
Traditional Kırkpınar Oil-Wrestling Festivities(Edirne)
International Hacı Bektaş-i Veli Memorial Celebrations (Nevşehir)
International Atatürk Dam Water Sports Feast (Şanlıurfa)
Şanlıurfa International Culture and Art Week
Antalya Demre International Noel Baba (St. Nicholas) Memorial Celebrations
Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival (Antalya)
Alanya International Culture and Art Festival 3 October - 5 October
Robert College Fine Arts Festival (Istanbul) Organized annually since 1982

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