Istanbul - 2010 European Capital of Culture


Exclusive Escapes is incredibly excited that Istanbul has been designated as a European Capital of Culture for 2010 - it means there has never been a better time to visit this vibrant city.  We all know the clichés written about Istanbul -  Europe meets Asia, minarets and mosques, whirling dervishes and the Grand Bazaar - but during 2010 visitors will get to see all of this and so much more.

A varied programme of cultural events is being staged throughout 2010 to showcase Istanbul as a leading destination for culture and the arts. The programme includes spectacular events and the opening of some seriously impressive new arts venues.  Projects will cover the whole spectrum of arts including photography, theatre, opera, ballet, fashion, music and architecture. 

To help guide our guests through these events we have put together a calendar and summaries of the main 2010 cultural attractions – see below.  We hope this will help you make the most of Istanbul 2010, to catch the cultural events which interest you most, leaving enough time, of course, for the must-see permanent attractions of the City. We will be updating the cultural programme throughout the year and adding more projects as they are announced.

In our opinion some of the main highlights of the year will be the Tall Ships Regatta, the opening of the Museum of Innocence, the performance of Avro Pärt’s ‘Adam’s Lament’, and the opening of the Princes’ Islands museum, to name a few. 

There is no better way to start a love affair with Istanbul than by travelling with Exclusive Escapes: from our hand-picked boutique hotels and private house, through to our civilised flight times, private airport transfers and private walking tours of the City.  And out hottest tip is to go experience amazing Istanbul now, in what is set to be the City’s most dynamic year.

We thank the Turkish Tourist Board for the following information and language.

Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Opening Ceremony of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Year - 16                      
Whirling Dervishes – (every Sunday) Yenikapi Mevlevihanesi                        
Contemporary Art’s Memory Kadirga Art Production Centre                        
BALLET                          
Istanbul International Ballet Competition Sütlüce Congress & Cultural Centre             05-10          
The Barbarossa Sütlüce Congress & Cultural Centre             01-13-14          
CONCERTS / MUSICALS                          
Racon’ Musical -           26-29            
Arvo Pärt’s, ‘Adam’s Lament for Istanbul’ St Irene           07            
‘A Story for the City, Constantinople’ Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Concert Hall           18            
Music Stops           21            
U2 Concert Olympic Stadium                 06      
‘Istanbul and Harp’ -                       01-15
CONFERENCES / MEETINGS                          
Europa Nostra Meeting -           09-13            
Les Rencontres, ‘Cults and Cultures’ -           10-13            
Summit of Faith Tourism Istanbul 2010 Lütfü Kirdar Congress and Convention Centre                   10-13    
Global Press Agencies Meeting in Istanbul -                     23-27  
Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
EXHIBITIONS                          
Ten Thousand Years of Iran’s Civilisation Topkapi Palace                        
‘One Thousand years of Persian Civilisation’ Topkapi Palance Museum   05                    
‘Kremlin Palace Treasures’ Topkapi Palace Museum                        
13th Istanbul International World Puppet Festival in Istanbul **     21-26                  
‘The Ravenna Mosaics’ Istanbul Archeology Museum                        
Assyrians in Istanbul’ Istanbul Archeology Museum                        
‘Istanbul 1910-2010: The City, Built Environment and Architectural Culture’ Santrallstanbul                        
Istanbul Fashion & Textile Conference and Exhibition Hilton Convention Centre         13-14              
Symposium & Exhibition of ‘Ottoman Art in the 16th and 17th Centuries’ in Pecs Pecs                        
Minatures and Illuminations of Ottoman Fountains -       15- 15-              
Breaking Stereotypes: The Common Comprehension of Images from East to West Depo       14- 27-              
Yenikapi Transfer Point Competition Exhibitions Yenikapi                        
‘From Byzantium to Istanbul’ Sakip Sabanci Museum                        
’99 Quran’ Gelata Mevlevi Lodge                        
Longing for Istanbul Taksim Art Gallery/Ottoman Bank Museum Cinema Hall                        
Armenian Architects of Istanbul Anatolian Side                        
Greek Architects of Istanbul -                        
‘Masters of the Past and Present’ Traditional Turkish Book Arts TÜYAP                        
Opening of the ‘Palladio’ Exhibition – Mimar Sinan Research Centre & Museum                        
Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
FESTIVALS                          
Melez Kulinarik ‘What are we cooking for Europe’ Ruhr Region                        
European Universities Theatre Festival -         02-06              
13th Istanbul International World puppet Festival **           04-15            
Ahirkapi Çatladikapi Hidrellez Festivals -           05            
Historical Seas Tall Ships Regatta -         27-30              
Ramadan Festivities -                        
‘Istanbul Enjoys in Streets!’ Haliç International Festival for Streets Art -                 15-25      
FILM                          
Cinema Lies at the Heart of Istanbul Kadirga                        
Lost Prince in Wonderland (Documentary) -                        
Breaking Stereotypes: Istanbul Crossroads Specials Depo         14- 27            
LIVES AND WORKS IN ISTANBUL All at Kadirga Art Centre                        
Antoni Muntadas Exhibition   18- 14                    
Sonja Ivekovic Workshop & Exhibition                          
George Lappas Workshop Exhibition                          
‘Sophie Calle’                          
All Artists’ Exhibitions                          
Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
OPENINGS                          
Hasanpasa Gasworks Cultural Centre Kadiköy                        
‘Istanbul Islands Museum’ Prince’s Islands             25          
‘Museum of Innocence’ Çukurcuma                        
‘TURVAK Cinema Museum’ Beyoglu                   21    
Vorvots Vorodman Church as Cultural Centre Vorvots Vorodman Church                        
PORTABLE ART                          
‘Record Construct Exhibition’ -                        
‘What Do You Know About Me’ - 10                      
‘Little Land Fish’ ìEFF-Taksim   03- 06                  
‘Centre and Periphery’ Büyükçekmece                        
‘Centre and Periphery’ Sile                        
‘Centre and Periphery’ Pendik                        
'Amber’ -                        
‘Being Istanbulite – Rope Statues’ -                        
‘He’s an Istanbulite’                        
'Nice to See you’ -                        
‘Openly – Maiden’s Tower’ Maiden’s Tower           02- 06          
‘Heyday’ -                        
‘Antiseri’ Zeytinburnu                        
‘Openly Ferries’ -           07- 08          
‘Fractal Flowers’ -                   03-    
Portable Art Closing Exhibition Taksim                        
Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
THE PHOTOGRAPH PARADE                          
‘Photograph is the Name of Istanbul’ -                   02    
‘Colourful Istanbul’ Fototrek   06- 05                  
‘Written Istanbul’ Fototrek     06- 02                
‘Photography Workshop for Children’ Fototrek     27-28                  
Accustomed istanbul’ Fototrek       03 07              
‘The Stage is Yours Istanbul’ Fototrek       -                
‘Photography Workshops’ Kadirga Art Production Centre         14-16              
‘Istanbul in Istanbul’ Fototrek         05- 02            
‘Tuesday Look – Exhibition Reading Days’ Fototrek             03- 06        
‘Sirkeci Train Station’ Fototrek               25        
SEMINARS                          
Mediterranean Art School Meeting Mimar Sinan University         02-09              
THEATRE AND DANCE                          
Istanpoli ‘Claude Wampler’ Garajlstanbul   24                    
Istanpoli ‘Michael Laub’ Garajlstanbul       26                
Spring in Haydarpasa Station Haydarpasa Train Station         20-23              
Istanpoli ‘Rimini’ Garajlstanbul                        
Promethiade – Theatre -                        
Event Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
OTHER EVENTS                          
Eastern Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair TÜYAP   11-14                    
‘Kasperiade’ Ruhr Region     7-12                  
Istanbul Grand Prix Istanbul Park International Circuit         30              
‘Karagöz in Istanbul, Istanbul in Karagöz’ Workshop -                   12-16    
Europe on Water -           11- 25          
‘Essen-Pecs-Istanbul on Bike -           30            
‘The Istanbul of Pina Bausch’ Sütlüce Congress & Cultural Centre           21-22            
2010 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship Atakoy Marina             08-17          
‘Mahya’ Competition -               20        
World Rowing Coastal Championships -                   22-25    
‘Istanbul Dreams Performance’ -                        
Istanpoli ‘Meg Stuart’ Garajlstanbul                        
PEN Novel Competition Finals (Awards Ceremony) -                        

**Locations of the World Puppets in Istanbul
Profilo Cultural Center, Meydan Shopping Center, French Cultural Center, Italian Cultural Center, Austria Cultural Center, Cervantes Cultural Center, Taksim Square, Beyoglu-Istiklal Street, Kadiköy Square, Ümraniye Square