Turkish municipalities launch 2026-2027 culture and arts seasons

Various municipalities and cultural institutions across Turkey have launched their 2026-2027 arts and culture seasons, often dedicating them to prominent literary figures.

In Esenler, the new season is dedicated to the influential Turkish poet and thinker Sezai Karakoç. The opening ceremony at the Dr. Kadir Topbaş Culture and Art Center featured an animation about Karakoç's life and poetry readings by actor Ali Nuri Türkoğlu. AK Party spokesperson Ömer Çelik attended, emphasizing the importance of culture and art as a means of preserving national values against modern technological shifts.

In Kahramanmaraş, a UNESCO City of Literature, the Abdurrahim Karakoç Culture and Art Season included a symposium discussing the life and literary legacy of the late poet, specifically focusing on his famous work “Mihriban.”

Other regional openings include Küçükçekmece, which dedicated its season to the memory of writer Yaşar Kemal with a themed exhibition, and Zeytinburnu, which hosted an ebru art exhibition and folk music concert. In Bakırköy, the theater season commenced with the production “Çirkin,” while İncirliova celebrated the season opening for its local football club, İncirliova Belediyespor.