For the first time in its history, Beyoğlu, Istanbul’s center of art and culture, will host a jazz festival in its own name: Beyoğlu Jazz Festival. This vibrant celebration blends with Beyoğlu’s unique rhythm, showcasing its cultural heritage and rich diversity. Venues across Beyoğlu—including concert halls, art collectives, record shops, galleries, and public spaces—will participate in this collaborative festival.
Planned for November 15–17, the festival’s eclectic lineup includes French composer and director Chassol, rising Parisian jazz project Bada Bada, South African rhythm-maker Asher Gamedze, London-based jazz group Luminoso, and Turkish jazz legends Okay Temiz, Şenova Ülker, Cihan Kahvecioğlu, Hububat feat. Joel Grip, Kamucan Yalçın and Friends, Mert Pekduraner, and many more. These performances will bring jazz to life across Beyoğlu’s diverse venues.
Beyond ticketed concerts, the festival offers a range of free events, including record shop gatherings, dance performances, workshops, panels, and independent street stages, all contributing to a participatory, accessible, and sustainable neighborhood festival. From Galata to Hayyam, Çukurcuma to Taksim, Beyoğlu Jazz will spread across the district.
Panel discussions such as “Urban Music and Beyoğlu as a Meeting Point,” “Traditional and Modern Jazz,” and “Women Artists in the City” will explore the district’s relationship with jazz. Additional talks like “Beyoğlu and Nostalgia” and “Hrant Lusikyan” will highlight Beyoğlu’s historical richness.
A key event, the “Memory of Jazz” exhibition, curated by M. Cevahir Akbaş and hosted in partnership with İBB Kültür AŞ, opens on November 13 at Taksim Sanat. This exhibition will delve into Turkey’s jazz history, presenting photos, newspaper clippings, and posters from archives, tracing Beyoğlu’s jazz culture from a musical perspective.
On the final day, the closing event at Frankhan will feature record stalls, DJ sets, music talks, and a three-hour, non-stop jam session where musicians from diverse backgrounds will perform spontaneous improvisations.
Additionally, with the “Festival-Friendly Venue” initiative, the festival highlights a sense of unity across Beyoğlu’s business community. Hundreds of local businesses will offer festival-goers discounts on their purchases.
The Beyoğlu Jazz Festival takes place November 15–17 in the heart of Istanbul, Beyoğlu. Tickets, registration, and more information are available at www.beyoglucazfestivali.com.
