Şanlıurfa to host UNESCO Music Cities Annual Meeting

Şanlıurfa will host the UNESCO Music Cities Annual Meeting from October 12 to 14. The event, organized by the Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality, will bring together representatives, artists, and musical groups from approximately 30 countries across Asia, Europe, America, and Africa.

Under the theme ‘In Search of the Roots of Music: From the Zero Point of History to the Modern World,’ the program will focus on the transmission of music from past to future, the role of youth in music education, and cultural collaborations between cities. Şanlıurfa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Kasım Gülpınar stated that the organization serves as a vital opportunity to promote the city’s musical and cultural heritage internationally.

The three-day schedule includes performances by artists from the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, as well as local traditions such as Kısaslı âşıklar, Kırşehir Abdalları, and dengbêjler. International groups from Croatia and Pitești are also expected to participate. In addition to thematic sessions and workshops on conservatory education and cultural continuity, international guests will visit historical sites including Göbeklitepe, Halfeti, the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, and Balıklıgöl.