More than fifty of the world’s top artists are expected to converge on Turkey this Fall to showcase their work during the 15th Istanbul Biennial which gets underway on September 16, 2017. Under the curatorship of artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset, the fifteenth Istanbul Biennial which runs through to November 12 will address what it means to be “a good neighbor.” This exhibition is just one of the many events expected to be a huge draw for visitors to Turkey this Fall.

For the avid sports enthusiast, Istanbul will serve as one of four host nations of EuroBasket and for those with an interest in sailing, there is the Bodrum Cup and Marmaris International Race Week. Another popular activity for visitors to Turkey is exploring the wine-growing region of Urgup and the Grape Harvest Festival is a must do.

Upcoming events being held in Turkey this Fall include:

ARTS & CULTURE
Contemporary Istanbul
Sep 14 – 17
Istanbul has been home to different civilizations and cultures over the ages and in recent years is fast becoming one of the biggest centers for contemporary art. So visitors to city that connects Asia and Europe will be in for an artistic treat between September 14 and 17 when Contemporary Istanbul will take place at Istanbul Congress Center (ICC) and Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (ICEC). The 12th edition of the fair will include artworks from both established and emerging galleries, bringing a regional and international focus to the dynamic contemporary art scene in Istanbul. Notable for its unique position both geographically and culturally, Contemporary Istanbul prides itself on bringing together galleries, artists and collectors from Turkey, the Caucasus, the Black Sea, Russia and the Middle East, as well as from Europe, America and Asia.

15th Istanbul Biennial
Sep 16 – Nov 12
The 15th Istanbul Biennial, entitled “a good neighbor” and curated by the Scandinavian artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset, will be housed in six venues and is free of charge. Bringing together a variety of artworks dealing with different notions of home and neighborhood, the 15th Istanbul Biennial exhibitions will take place at Istanbul Modern, Galata Greek Primary School, Ark Kültür, Pera Museum, an artist collective’s studio, and Küçük Mustafa Pa?a Hammam. The public program of the 15th Istanbul Biennial, coordinated by Zeyno Pekünlü, will kick off during the opening days of the Biennial. In addition to the symposia to be performed during the opening and closing week, there will be periodic events in which the audience will cook, read, and make music, as well as discussions, debates and workshops around the theme of the Biennial, “a good neighbor”.

54th International Antalya Film Festival
Oct 21 – 27
Antalya International Film Festival, held annually since 1963, is one of the most important international film festivals in Turkey. Taking place amongst the palm lined boulevards, and sun drenched avenues of beautiful city of Antalya (pictured above), the Festival will offer numerous exhibitions, retrospectives and opportunities to discover new trends in World Cinema. This year in its 54th edition, the Festival is bringing in the Turkish and global film industry together with the mission of establishing a cultural and communications platform and increasing its influence on an international level. This year, the Festival will continue to support Antalya Film Forum that has become one of the most important events throughout Europe within the first 3 years of its establishment, including hosting countless projects that held their world premiers recognized by prestigious festivals. With the great support of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the Festival is organized by the Antalya Culture and Art Foundation (AKSAV).

SPORTS
EuroBasket 2017
Sep 1 – 7; Sep 9 – 17
Four nations including Turkey will play host to 24 teams from 49 federations between August 31 and September 17, for the 40th edition of the FIBA EuroBasket 2017. In Istanbul, the Fenerbahce Ulker Sports Arena will seat 13,000 screaming fans for games between September 1-7. Then, the 16,000 seat Sinan Erdem Arena will serve as the host venue September 9-17, where ultimately the 2017 European champions will be crowned. Following the end of the basketball tournament, teams and their fans are encouraged to linger longer to bask in the beauty of Istanbul.

The Bodrum Cup
Oct 17 – 22
Plan your vacation to coincide with the culmination of the gulet regatta season in Turkey which is a sight to behold. The Bodrum Cup is an international event for classic sailing yachts held in the third week of October and will see more than one hundred wooden yachts partake in this five-day competition. Most of the participating vessels are gullets, which are traditional sponge diving boats, and while they cannot reach the speed of modern yachts they are ideal for coastal cruising. At about 65 feet to 130 feet long, the gullets are comfortably furnished with sofas, sun beds and kilims.

28th Marmaris International Race Week
Oct 28 – Nov 3
Join us in Marmaris for the 28th staging of International Race Week, organized by Marmaris International Yacht Club, Turkey’s and Eastern Mediterranean’s most participated sailing race. The event has hosted thousands of sailors from 30 different countries to this day and some 1,000 sailors are expected to attend the race in 100 yachts. In the first three days of the regatta, the races will be sailed in two separate fleets and different courses run by two different Race Committees. The annual event contributes greatly to the social and economic life of Marmaris at the end of tourism season.

GASTRONOMY
WorldFood Istanbul
Sep 7 – 10
WorldFood Istanbul is the largest and the most successful food and food processing exhibition in Turkey, featuring over 300 exhibitors every year. It brings together local and international producers and brands. The event provides the exhibitors with an invaluable platform to share their products and to develop and increase their business. The event continues to grow each year, attracting more than 13,000 visitors in 2016.

International Grape Harvest Festival
Sep 9 – Oct 11
The Grape Harvest Festival in Urgup, Cappadocia is one of the most important autumn events of the region. Ürgüp, a lively tourist centre which has all the characteristics of the central grape and wine producing region of Central Anatolia region, hosts an annual International Wine and Grape Festival. This must-see festival is held in an important region where grape-growing has a history spanning back nearly 4,000 years.

Istanbul Coffee Festival
Sep 21 – 24
Part of a visit to any new city is without a doubt experiencing its culture. An important part of this city’s culture is the cuisine of which coffee is key. The Istanbul Coffee Festival, which began its city journey in the historical Galata Greek Primary School, continued at Haydarpa?a Railway Station before moving to KüçükÇiftlik Park, where it is now housed. Of course it’s no coincidence that this journey started and continued in places that are the carriers of a mutual city memory and culture. Offering a new festival experience to consumers by bringing specialty coffee and its culture together with the city texture, ?stanbul Coffee Festival is very happy to be the creator and carrier of such culture that has been enriching and growing thanks to the participation of thousands of city dwellers and visitors.

HEALTH & WELLNESS
Dream Yoga Fest
Sep 28 – Oct 1
Dream Yoga Fest is a five-day event being held in Fethiye, Turkey. This event, which targets the Consumer & Carnivals, Wellness, Health & Fitness industries, showcases products like infinite possibilities, dreams, breath and light, yoga, training, teaching, joy, pleasure and color of serenity, enjoying the sea, laughter, sitting under a tree reading books, taking a massage against the mountain view, dancing & much more etc.