The summer heat is upon us, which means that our favorite part of the season also draws near… music festivals! Every year in Istanbul, it seems like we’re welcoming new festivals, wondering what happened to old ones, and of course preparing for our favorites that are returning. We’re happy to say that this year’s festival line-up is perhaps the most diverse and exciting we’ve had in several years – with plenty of variety on the menu. Of course, tickets tend to go pretty quickly so you’ll want to act fast if you plan to attend. You can check out some of our most anticipated (in chronological order) below.
A quick note: The pricing listed below are from the date of publication, and you can most certainly expect them to go up as the dates get closer.
Saturday & Sunday 15-16 June: 100% Music presents Chill-Out Festival
Chill-Out Festival, one of Turkey’s most established music festivals, has been a mainstay of the summer experience since 2006. With yearly festivals in Istanbul, as well as appearances in Çeşme and Bodrum, they’ve boasted line-ups including José González, Thievery Corporation, Baba Zula, Kadebostany, Stavroz, and Morcheeba in years prior. This year’s edition continues the trend of diverse lineups, with headliners that include Black Motion, Blond:ish, Coss, David August, Nicola Cruz, Pantha Du Prince, and many more. It’s a two-day affair, with plenty of daytime activities (like yoga and cocktail workshops) and opportunity ot chill in addition to the heavy-hitting music program. For a more complete idea, do check out our review from last year: Chill-Out Festival 2018: A ‘Heaven on Earth’ Music Experience in Istanbul
Price: 163 TL/day
Location: Garden Fiesta
Links: Facebook / Biletix
Saturday 22 June: Midsommar Festival
Midsommar Festival – drawing inspiration from the Swedish festival equivalent – appears to be a new entry into the city’s summer music festival landscape, but they’re certainly coming out swinging. Backed by the well-established Beat the Night organization, this year’s debut features the talents of Kadebostany, Roosevelt, Jan Blomqvist & Band, Darius, Jakuzi, and Club Bangkok. For those who haven’t had a chance to catch a previous Kadebostany performance in Turkey – it’s worth noting that they’re known for putting on an incredible live show. Plenty of activities scattered throughout the day usher in some extra motivation to attend.
Price: 110 TL
Location: Küçükçiftlik Park
Links: Facebook / Mobilet
Wednesday 3 July: Electric Playground
Electric Playground made serious waves last year for their freshman effort, headlined by none other than world renowned outfit The Chainsmokers. This year is no exception as they continue gaining momentum promising what’s sure to be a mammoth performance from headliner Marshmello, with support from crowd favorites Kungs and DJ Funky C. If you haven’t investigated our Nine Reasons to Check Out Marshmello, you may not know what you’re missing out on. Certain to be one of the biggest names in this year’s festival roundup, and an incredibly strong claim for the future of the Electric Playground series as part of Turkey’s mainstay festivals.
Price: 190 TL
Location: Küçükçiftlik Park
Links: Facebook / Biletix
Monday 8 July: Greenify
Greenify admittedly snuck up on us this year and we’ve managed to find little about the history of the festival, but none of that matters with a headliner like Macy Gray. With hits like “Over You”, “I Try”, “Sugar Daddy”, and of course “Beauty in the World”, it’s destined to be the summer singalong we’ve all been waiting for. Yüzyüzeyken Konuşuruz, Jakuzi, Palmiyeler and Dj Hakan Tamar all add a bit of energy to the proceedings, and as perhaps the most cheaply priced festival ticket this year, it’s certainly worth the admission.
Price: 85 TL
Location: Küçükçiftlik Park
Links: Facebook / Biletix
Saturday & Sunday 13-14 July: 100% Music presents Electronica Festival
Much like their aforementioned brethren series, Electronica Festival is another icon of Turkey’s summer experiences. The series first kicked off in 2004, and every single iteration without fail has been an opportunity for a truly eclectic mix of international and local talents to show us what they’ve got. David Guetta, Markus Shuls, Cassius, Fischerspooner, Orbital, and so many other electronic juggernauts are alumni of the illustrious Electronica Festival, and it’s safe to say that this year’s line-up is sure to impress as well. Details are soon to come, but we’re confident it’ll be a winner. Check out our previous reviews for more of an idea: Electronica Festival Istanbul — A Monument of the City’s Summer Landscape (2017); Electronica Festival Istanbul 2018: Returning to Turkey’s Electronic Behemoth
Price: 163 TL (Combined)
Location: Life Park
Links: Facebook / Biletix
Saturday 20 July: One Love Festival 15
What can we say? We love One Love! When the series was cancelled in 2016, we were devastated by the news, which was only amplified by its absence in the two years that followed. But now, like a phoenix rising again, One Love Festival 15 returns thanks to our friends at Pozitif. With a diverse and energetic line-up that includes headliners like The Blaze, Years & Years, Michael Kiwanuka, Ezhel, Büyük Ev Ablukada, The Black Madonna, Oh Land, Gaye Su Akyol, Palms Trax, Dekmantel Soundsystem, Jungle by Night, Black Merlin and so many others, it’s destined to be one of the year’s most memorable events.
Price: 190 TL
Location: Parkorman and Volkswagen Arena
Links: Facebook / Biletix
Friday to Sunday 26-28 July: Big Burn Istanbul 2019
Burn energy drink has spent the last several years firing up Istanbul’s electronic music scene, not only for festivals, but in keeping the calendar year full of exciting and unique performances at various venues across the city. That said, Big Burn is without a doubt their talisman and this year’s edition proves to be another monumental occasion. With the closure of late-night events on the Kilyos coastline, camping and the beachside festival experience were thought to have been lost, but by switching up the location to Şile this year, it seems the possibility of a full-on three-day non-stop festival experience is indeed on the cards. For a better idea of the experience, check out our previous review Big Burn Istanbul: A New Hope in this Fiery Festival.
Price: 210 TL (Starting)
Location: Şile
Links: Facebook / Bugece
Did we miss one of your favorite festivals? Let us know in the comments!
