{"id":808262,"date":"2026-10-20T04:48:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T04:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/808262\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T04:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T04:48:19","slug":"istanbul-stages-and-galleries-fill-up-for-oct-19-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/808262\/","title":{"rendered":"Istanbul stages and galleries fill up for Oct. 19-25"},"content":{"rendered":"

Istanbul is set to host a wide range of cultural events this week, from theater and music to exhibitions, with venues on both the European and Asian sides of the city taking part.<\/p>\n

\"Actors
\n <\/p>\n

\n Actors perform a scene depicting life amid destruction in Gaza during a theatrical production by Istanbul State Theatre in Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Oct. 16, 2026. (AA Photo)\n <\/p>\n

Theater<\/p>\n

Istanbul State Theaters<\/a> stage \u201cOld Clown Wanted for a Small Job\u201d (\u201cKucuk Bir Is Icin Yasli Bir Palyaco Araniyor\u201d) and \u201cThe Red Sphere\u201d (\u201cKirmizi Kure\u201d) at the Mecidiyekoy Grand Stage in the Sisli district on the European side, Oct. 20-25.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn My Father\u2019s Words\u201d (\u201cBabamin Kelimeleriyle\u201d) runs Oct. 20-24 at the Mecidiyekoy Studio Stage. \u201cPerpetual Peace\u201d (\u201cEbedi Baris\u201d) is on Oct. 22-24 at the Halit Akcatepe Stage of the Mustafa Saffet Cultural Center in Atasehir on the Asian side.<\/p>\n

\u201cLacrima,\u201d part of the Istanbul Theater Festival<\/a>, is staged Oct. 22-23 at the Zorlu PSM<\/a> Turkcell Stage in Besiktas.<\/p>\n

At Trump Sahne<\/a>, the crime comedy \u201cSetup in the Dark\u201d (\u201cKaranlikta Kumpas\u201d), starring Safak Sezer, Ozgur Ozgulgun, Zeynep Kankonde and Sebnem Ozinal, performs on Oct. 22. Mahser-i Cumbus, a group described as a pioneer of modern improvisational theater, performs there Oct. 24. \u201cMilk Siblings\u201d (\u201cSut Kardesler\u201d), adapted by veteran Turkish theater figure Nejat Uygur and staged by the Suheyl and Behzat Uygur Theater, follows on Oct. 25.<\/p>\n

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) City Theaters<\/a> presents the following productions Oct. 21-24:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Play That Went Astray\u201d (\u201cYoldan Cikan Oyun\u201d) \u2013 Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage.””Tartuffe”\u2014Kagithane Sadabad Stage.\u201cTime Just Stands Still\u201d (\u201cOylece Durur Zaman\u201d) \u2013 Uskudar Musahipzade Celal Stage.\u201cThe Robbers\u201d (\u201cHaramiler\u201d) \u2013 Umraniye Stage.\u201cMy Bicycle Was Blue\u201d (\u201cMaviydi Bisikletim\u201d) \u2013 Uskudar Kerem Yilmazer Stage.\u201cDear Yelena Sergeyevna\u201d (\u201cSevgili Yelena Sergeyevna\u201d) \u2013 Prof. Dr. Sevda Sener Stage, Kadikoy Muze Gazhane.\u201cRoma Boxer\u201d (\u201cCingene Boksor\u201d) \u2013 Meydan Stage, Kadikoy Muze Gazhane.<\/p>\n

Uskudar, Umraniye and Kadikoy are on the Asian side, while Harbiye and Kagithane are on the European side.<\/p>\n

A further production, \u201cYou Are More Beautiful Than Istanbul\u201d (\u201cSen Istanbul\u2019dan Daha Guzelsin\u201d), is staged Oct. 24 at the Rasim Oztekin Stage in Yakuplu, Beylikduzu, in western Istanbul.<\/p>\n

\"An
\n <\/p>\n

\n An orchestra performs alongside a soloist at the renovated Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Oct. 7, 2026. (AA Photo)\n <\/p>\n

Music<\/p>\n

Japanese pianist and composer Aki Takase performs with her quintet \u201cJapanic\u201d on Oct. 21 at the IBB Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall (CRR) in Harbiye.<\/p>\n

Takase, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the German Jazz Awards (Deutscher Jazzpreis), is joined in improvisation by a turntable alongside piano and saxophone.<\/p>\n

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Andrea Solinas, shares the stage with tenor Vittorio Grigolo, soprano Maria Kokareva and pianist Philipp Kopachevsky in the concert \u201cOne Voice\u201d (\u201cBir Ses\u201d) on Oct. 21 at the Turk Telekom Opera Hall of the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM)<\/a> in Taksim.<\/p>\n

On Oct. 23, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra<\/a> presents the \u201cT\u00fcrkiye-Poland Friendship Concert in Honor of Tadeusz Strugala\u201d (\u201cT\u00fcrkiye Polonya Dostluk Konseri Tadeusz Strugala Onuruna\u201d) at the same AKM hall.<\/p>\n

The concert is part of the DenizBank Concerts series and is organized with the Consulate General of Poland in Istanbul. Marzena Diakun conducts, with pianist Szymon Nehring.<\/p>\n

Pera Museum<\/a>\u2019s Turkish Music Concerts opens its new season on Oct. 25 with \u201cComposers of the Republican Era\u201d (\u201cCumhuriyet Donemi Bestekarlari\u201d) at the Pera Museum Auditorium in Beyoglu. The series honors the musical legacy of Professor. Dr. Alaeddin Yavasca includes presentations and talks on the historical, cultural, traditional, sociological, and literary aspects of Turkish music.<\/p>\n

Other concerts this week include:<\/p>\n

Amira Medunjanin\u2014A prominent performer of Sevdalinka, Bosnia and Herzegovina\u2019s traditional music genre. Zorlu PSM, Oct. 24.Demet Sagiroglu and Barbaros\u2014Zorlu PSM Turkcell Platinum Stage, Oct. 23.<\/p>\n

\"Visitors
\n <\/p>\n

\n Visitors examine traditional Japanese paintings during Japan Week 2026, showcasing Japanese culture in Istanbul, T\u00fcrkiye, Oct. 8, 2026. (AA Photo)\n <\/p>\n

Exhibitions<\/p>\n

\u201cI Am Talking With Istanbul\u201d (\u201cIstanbul ile Konusuyorum\u201d) opens Oct. 21 at the Istanbul Shopping Center. Curated by Samed Karagoz, the exhibition addresses the city\u2019s memory, architecture and urban life through different disciplines, with works by Ozan Turkkan, Eylul Alici, Kivanc Aykan, Raziyye Kuzu Atalay, Server Demirtas, Selcuk Artut and Fuat Degirmenci.<\/p>\n

Ara Guler\u2019s \u201cLittle Hungary\u201d (\u201cKucuk Macaristan\u201d) opens Oct. 22 at the Hungarian Cultural Center in Kagithane and runs through Feb. 12, 2027.<\/p>\n

\u201cVerses of the Sultanate\u201d (\u201cSaltanat Dizeleri\u201d), which pairs poems by Ottoman sultans with calligraphy and illumination, opens Oct. 20 at the Dolmabahce Palace<\/a> Art Gallery. \u201cThree Painters: Alaettin Aksoy, Mehmet Guleryuz, Komet\u201d (\u201cUc Ressam: Alaettin Aksoy, Mehmet Guleryuz, Komet\u201d), a group show of Turkish painters, is on view at the AKM Gallery until Oct. 26.<\/p>\n

The personal belongings of oud and cello virtuoso, composer, and painter Serif Muhiddin Targan are on display in the \u201cSerif Muhiddin Targan Exhibition\u201d at the Beyazit Manuscripts Library until Dec. 9.<\/p>\n

Other exhibitions currently open across the city include:<\/p>\n

\u201cUnder the Same Blue\u201d (\u201cAyni Mavinin “Altinda”)\u2014Istanbul Modern<\/a>\u2019s 10th collection exhibition, at the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacibasi Collection Exhibition Hall.\u201cDomestic Industry, International Reputation\u201d (\u201cYerli Sanayi, Uluslararasi “Itibar”)\u2014Marking the Koc Group’s 100th anniversary, at the Rahmi M. Koc Museum<\/a> until Feb. 7, 2027.Aybeniz Zeynalova exhibition \u2013 Works by the Azerbaijani artist prepared for Gaza, at Rami Library<\/a>.\u201cThe Burden of Humanity: Decolonization Today\u201d (\u201cInsanligin Yuku: Dekolonizasyonun “Bugunu”)\u2014Organized<\/a> by the NUN Education and Culture Foundation in cooperation with the Istanbul Governorship, at Rami Library.\u201cNo later. Later is now.\u201d (\u201cSonra yok. Sonrasi simdi.\u201d) \u2013 An Arter<\/a> collection group exhibition examining the idea of the end of the world in its existential, ecological, and political dimensions, open until March 28, 2027.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

October 19, 2026 05:35 PM GMT+03:00<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Istanbul is set to host a wide range of cultural events this week, from theater and music to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":808263,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[6225,6485,6486,1120,96,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-808262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=808262"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808262\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/808263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=808262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=808262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=808262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}