Culture and The Arts in İstanbul: Events You Should Not Miss in September and October 2023

Autumn, perhaps the best season in İstanbul, has arrived. Autumn captivates with its gentle winds, raindrops gently hitting the glass, the changing colours, and a plethora of splendours. Another of the wonderful aspects of autumn is the abundance of cultural and artistic events. Each year in September and October, İstanbul's thriving cultural and artistic scene comes to life. Here are some events to look out for this autumn:

Rooftop Festival (September 9, 2023)

Would you like to combine the best views of İstanbul with a delightful musical feast? The Rooftop Festival, an İstanbul institution, welcomes festivalgoers on Saturday, September 9th. Follow the Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/rooftop.festival/ to learn more about this event, where you can experience İstanbul's most magnificent terraces, listen to performances by famous local and visiting artists, and enjoy special dishes.

İstanbul Coffee Festival (September 14-13, 2023)

The city's most coffee-scented activity is the İstanbul Coffee Festival! Tersane İstanbul hosts this four-day festival of coffee. Everyone is invited to spend enjoyable and coffee-scented days with quality and unique coffees, concerts, seminars, workshops, and a variety of other events. The website https://coffeefestival.com/ provides detailed information on how to sample delicious coffees and participate in the workshops.

Vol. 2 of Broadway in İstanbul (September 19, 2023)

At Maximum Uniq Open Air, the winds of Broadway will blow; can you feel the breeze? The well received Broadway in İstanbul drew a lot of attention when it first opened and is getting preparing to welcome audiences again for volume two. With famous names like Nilgün Belgün, Buray, and Melisa Döngel, Broadway in İstanbul, awaits anyone looking for an unforgettable Broadway experience. For more information, please see https://maximumuniq.com.tr/etkinlik/broadway-in-İstanbul-vol-2.

The Thirty-third Akbank Jazz Festival (September 23-8, 2023)

The 33rd Akbank Jazz Festival, Türkiye's oldest jazz festival, has begun! This festival began in İstanbul in 1991 and has since hosted many jazz artists over the years. The festival provides unforgettable musical feasts in various venues around the city. You can learn more about this joyful festival, which will feature respected artists such as Erik Truffaz, Al Di Meola, and Gabi Hartmann, by visiting the website https://www.akbanksanat.com/.

Festibağ (September 23-24, 2023)

Festibağ’s first concept "Bağımızda Festival Var (There is a Festival in Our Garden)" combined cultural riches with a modern awareness and offered a wonderful blend of art, music, and delicious tastes. This year, Festibağ will take place at one of the most beautiful places in the city, the Swissotel Bosphorus Chalet Garden. Scheduled are workshops and the appearances of notable artists. For more information, go to https://biletino.com/tr/e-pfa/festibag/.

The Eighteenth Contemporary İstanbul Event (September 28-October 1, 2023)

The entire city and art lovers are looking forward to the 18th edition of Contemporary İstanbul. This event is only a few days away. Contemporary İstanbul will be open to the public from September 28 to October 1, bringing together Türkiye's burgeoning culture and art scenes with collectors and art enthusiasts. There will be 67 contemporary art galleries in total this year, with 21 art galleries presenting for the first time. Visit the website https://www.contemporaryİstanbul.com/ for more information.

Vintage Festival (October 7-8, 2023)

Are you ready for a flurry of nostalgia? The Vintage Festival, organised by İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality Kültür AŞ, invites anyone interested in experiencing the spirit of past eras to visit Kadıköy. You can get excited for 50s dance figures and take wonderful photos with classic model cars at the event. The festival includes performances of unforgettable songs and the unveiling of surprise guests. For more information, please visit https://kultur.istanbul/ 

İstanbul Cocktail Festival (October 7-8, 2023)

Are you ready to experience legendary flavours, unforgettable tastes, and exciting activities? For the second year in a row, Türkiye's first and only cocktail festival returns to Küçükçiftlik Park! The website https://www.biletix.com/etkinlik-grup/370412890/TURKIYE/tr has all the information about the presentations by İstanbul's leading cocktail bars, workshops organised by experienced mixologists, and wonderful performances.

Filmekimi (October 13-22, 2023)

Filmekimi is kicking off, movie buffs! Since 2002, Filmekimi has been the best way to welcome the autumn season. Filmekimi contributes to the advancement of cinema culture by bringing together independent, experimental, and award-winning films from around the world to cinema enthusiasts. To view the event calendar and the film list, go to https://filmekimi.iksv.org/tr.

We wish you a cultural and artistic autumn in the city!