Turkish Cultural Route Festival | Sanliurfa
Celebration
Turkey continues to attract visitors from all over the world with its numerous festivals and outdoor performances. The Culture Route Festivals, a major national project and official member of the European Festivals Association (EFA), returns this year on its largest scale to date, covering 26 cities. This months-long series of events takes local and global audiences on a unique cultural journey, allowing them to deeply appreciate the country's rich cultural heritage. The 2026 Culture Route Festivals opened in Şanlıurfa on April 25 and concluded in Adana on November 15. Throughout the 26-city event, thousands of events took place, encompassing concerts, exhibitions, theatre, opera, lectures, and workshops, transforming Turkey into a giant cultural stage for months. Special programs for children are also a core component of this year's festival. Diverse themed workshops, stage performances, outdoor play areas, and educational programs help young people engage with art and participate in cultural experiences from a young age. All activities are centered on showcasing local culture, fully demonstrating the unique cultural heritage of each region. Another highlight of the 2026 event is the newly launched Food Culture Special Program. The organizers have assembled an expert advisory group to discover iconic culinary landmarks in each participating city, authentically presenting the unique food culture of each province. In addition, the advisory group will compile representative flavors from each city and create exclusive culinary experience routes. Each province will appoint a "City Chef" responsible for planning event content and promoting local culinary heritage. Through this systematic operation, local food culture will be presented in a more systematic and impactful way, providing visitors with an immersive experience including food workshops, tasting events, and themed food routes.
