This summer, Ephesus, Aspendos and Bodrum will be at the heart of Türkiye’s cultural scene, hosting international opera and ballet festivals that blend heritage, art and tourism in exceptional historic settings.
Türkiye’s open-air venues, many of which are situated in unique archaeological sites, are enjoying a renewed international profile. In recent months, these historic spaces have captured global attention via social media, showcasing their ability to host cultural experiences and contemporary events within settings of great heritage value. From theatre performances to film screenings and large-scale gatherings, these venues continue to serve as cultural hubs, just as they did centuries ago.
Once used for gladiatorial spectacles, theatrical performances or public ceremonies, these ancient theatres and cities have now been transformed into unique venues where history and the performing arts coexist naturally. Against this backdrop, the arrival of summer once again puts Türkiye on the international cultural map thanks to its programme of opera and ballet festivals held in venues of great historical significance.
The first of these major events takes place in Ephesus, one of the country’s most iconic archaeological sites. The 9th Ephesus International Opera and Ballet Festival, running from 26 June to 8 July, will offer a repertoire combining great classics with large-scale productions, such as Swan Lake, Carmina Burana and Tosca. The city’s majestic ancient theatre, with a capacity for thousands of spectators, thus becomes an exceptional stage beneath the Aegean night sky.
Following the event in Ephesus, the programme continues in Aspendos, in the province of Antalya. This site is home to one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, renowned for its extraordinary acoustics, as well as an impressive aqueduct system that showcases the engineering of antiquity. From 12 to 26 September, this venue will host the 33rd edition of the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival, which has established itself as one of the country’s most prestigious cultural events, featuring world-class productions in a unique setting.
The summer’s cultural itinerary is rounded off in Bodrum, in the province of Muğla, where the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas meet and some of Türkiye’s most exclusive tourist destinations are concentrated. In this enclave, the historic Bodrum Castle once again serves as the venue for the 23rd International Ballet Festival, which will take place from 31 July to 13 August. This event, now a fixture on the summer calendar, attracts both domestic and international visitors seeking to combine leisure, culture and heritage in a single destination.
Beyond the festivals, these destinations offer complementary cultural experiences that enrich the visit. Through the “Night-time Museums” initiative, travellers can explore sites such as Ephesus or Aspendos, illuminated at dusk, discovering a new dimension to these historic sites in a more intimate and evocative atmosphere. In Bodrum, the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, situated in the castle, is also part of this programme, expanding the cultural offering in the evening.
Throughout the year, Türkiye’s ancient cities continue to host other major cultural events, such as the Phaselis Festival, which focuses on music, or the Pergamon Theatre Festival, which transforms this iconic site into a contemporary stage for the performing arts. At the same time, archaeological excavations continue to yield new discoveries that enrich the historical value of these destinations, such as the recent discovery of a Roman mosaic in Aspendos depicting the mythological figure of Eurymedon.
With this combination of heritage, cultural programming and unique experiences, Türkiye reinforces its position as a destination capable of offering distinctive experiences, where history, art and tourism come together to create memorable experiences throughout the year.
About the TÜRKİYE TOURISM PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (TGA)
TGA works to ensure that Türkiye is a recognised brand in national and international tourism, to promote Türkiye’s tangible and intangible, natural, cultural, biological and man-made heritage, and to engage in short-, medium- and long-term communication and marketing activities, with a view to increasing the contribution of tourism investment to the national economy and improving the quality of service in the tourism sector.
TGA is responsible for carrying out all promotional, marketing and communication activities to help Türkiye achieve its tourism objectives, promote and market existing tourism resources worldwide, and identify, develop and make potential tourism resources available online, in line with the tourism strategies and policies drawn up by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Source: COMUNICACIÓN IBEROAMERICANA