Van hosts Turkey Culture Route Festival's 10th stop

From July 11‑19, Van is the tenth venue of the Turkey Culture Route Festival, a nine‑day cultural marathon that will feature 163 events across eight locations. The programme includes concerts, art exhibitions, theater performances, workshops, a photography marathon and a series of children’s activities.

The opening ceremony at Van Museum was attended by Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Nadir Alpaslan, Van Governor Ozan Balcı, MP Kayhan Türkmenoğlu and festival officials. Officials highlighted the festival’s role in raising the city’s brand value, showcasing its tangible and intangible heritage, and stimulating the local economy.

A key focus this year is gastronomy. Through the “Lezzet Noktası” project, 27 restaurants and more than 25 food‑spot venues will present Van’s signature dishes such as the famous Van breakfast, otlu cheese, murtuğa, keledoş and inçe kefali, aiming to promote the region’s cuisine internationally.

The Van edition is part of the nationwide Turkey Culture Route Festival, which now reaches 26 cities over a 234‑day marathon running from April 25 to November 15, and is promoted as one of the world’s largest cultural‑art festivals.