# International theater festivals in Istanbul

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/international-theater-festivals-in-istanbul
> Updated: 2026-10-02T07:49:00.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The 8th International Maltepe Theater Festival has begun in Istanbul, organized by the Maltepe Municipality. The event includes a general assembly meeting of the Eurasia Theater Association (ETA).

Participants from approximately 15 cities and 30 countries are attending, including groups from Ukraine, Palestine, Korea, Romania, Portugal, and Italy. During the opening ceremony, Maltepe Deputy Mayor Cevahir Efe Akçelik stated the festival serves as a bridge between Maltepe and the world, emphasizing the importance of strengthening solidarity among independent theaters during “challenging times”.

The opening program featured a performance by the Iași Metropolitan Orchestra from Romania, performing a repertoire of opera, operetta, musical theater, and classical music.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-02: Maltepe Municipality hosts 8th International Theater Festival

The 8th International Maltepe Theater Festival has opened in Istanbul, featuring participants from 30 countries and the Eurasia Theater Association general assembly.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/maltepe-municipality-hosts-8th-international-theater-festival

### 2026-09-12: Istanbul Theater Festival celebrates 30th anniversary with 17 productions

The 30th Istanbul Theater Festival, organized by IKSV, will feature 17 domestic and international productions from October 22 to December 3.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-theater-festival-celebrates-30th-anniversary-with-17-productions

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Cite as: International theater festivals in Istanbul. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/international-theater-festivals-in-istanbul