Best March 2026 Events in Turkey: 6 Cities, One Month

March 2026 is one of the most culturally rich months to travel in Turkey. Ramadan comes to an end, the spring festival of Nevruz fills parks and beaches with bonfires and folk music, and the country pauses for a joyful 3-day public holiday. From the ancient streets of Istanbul to the turquoise coastlines of Fethiye and Side, there is something special happening everywhere. Here is your city-by-city guide to the most attractive March events in Turkey — with exact locations, dates, and everything you need to know.

🏙️  Istanbul — Turkey’s Cultural Capital

Province: Istanbul  |  Region: Marmara

Ramazan Bayramı (Şeker Bayramı / Eid al-Fitr)

📍 Where: Citywide — mosques, Sultanahmet Square, Bosphorus waterfront, Eminönü

📅 Date: 20–22 March 2026 (Eve: 19 March)

Istanbul transforms during Ramazan Bayramı. Mosques are illuminated by the traditional “Mahya” light decorations stretched between minarets, and entire families fill the streets after early morning prayers. The historic Sultanahmet district becomes a festive hub, with sweet stalls serving güllaç, baklava, and Turkish delight. Children dress in their finest clothes and receive sweets and gifts from neighbours and elders. It is one of the warmest, most authentic cultural experiences Istanbul offers — free, spontaneous, and unmissable.

Tulip Festival — Early Bloom Preview

📍 Where: Emirgan Park, Gülhane Park (next to Topkapı Palace), Sultanahmet Square

📅 Date: Late March 2026 — blooms begin; peak in early April

Millions of tulip bulbs in over 160 varieties are planted across Istanbul every year, and by late March the first blooms appear. Emirgan Park on the Bosphorus is the most spectacular location, home to a famous carpet of over 545,000 tulips. Gülhane Park beside Topkapı Palace also puts on a stunning display. The official festival runs through April, but late March visitors catch the season opening — with far smaller crowds than the April peak.

🏖️  Antalya — Gate to the Turkish Riviera

Province: Antalya  |  Region: Mediterranean Coast

Nevruz — Spring Festival

📍 Where: Damlataş Beach (Alanya), Konyaaltı Park, public squares across Antalya city

📅 Date: 21 March 2026

Nevruz — meaning “new day” in Persian — is one of Turkey’s oldest and most beloved spring celebrations, officially recognised by the United Nations and listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. On 21 March 2026, communities across Antalya gather in parks and on beaches for bonfires, folk dances, traditional music, and communal feasts. Participants jump over the flames as a symbol of health and good fortune. In 2026, Nevruz falls exactly on the second day of Ramazan Bayramı, making it an extraordinary double celebration.

Live Music at Antalya Cultural Venues

📍 Where: Holly Stone Performance Hall (city centre & Konyaaltı), Sponge Pub Konyaaltı, Atatürk Kültür Merkezi (AKM) — Aspendos Salonu

📅 Date: Throughout March 2026

Antalya’s live music calendar stays busy in March. Demir Demirkan performs on 13 March at Holly Stone, Yedinci Ev takes the stage on 26 March, and Emre Aydın plays Sponge Pub Konyaaltı on 27 March. The Aspendos Salonu at AKM also hosts classical and contemporary performances. March is the ideal time to enjoy these events — tickets are easier to get and the city is refreshingly uncrowded.

🏴  Alanya — The Mediterranean Gem

Province: Antalya  |  District: Alanya  |  Region: Eastern Mediterranean Coast

Ramadan Square Events & Bayram Celebrations

📍 Where: Alanya Harbour, central squares, waterfront promenade

📅 Date: Throughout March 2026; Bayram 20–22 March

Alanya’s harbour area and central squares come alive throughout Ramadan with evening iftar markets, traditional food stalls, and open-air cultural events. When Ramazan Bayramı arrives on 20 March, the city erupts in celebration — families gather along the waterfront, mosques are packed for morning prayers, and children fill the streets collecting sweets. The atmosphere at Alanya Harbour during Bayram evenings is magical.

Alanya Ultra Trail Races

📍 Where: Taurus Mountain trails & Mediterranean coastline, Alanya

📅 Date: 27-28 March 2026

Part of the prestigious UTMB Index race series, the Alanya Ultra Trail draws hundreds of international athletes to tackle routes of 17, 28, 48, and 73 km through dramatic Taurus Mountain scenery and along the coast. Even non-runners are drawn to Alanya for the electric international atmosphere this event creates.

🏛️  Side — Ancient City by the Sea

Province: Antalya  |  District: Manavgat  |  Region: Mediterranean Coast

Ramadan Nights & Bayram in Side’s Ancient Streets

📍 Where: Side Old Town, Apollo Temple square, Side Harbour, Manavgat Atatürk Kültür Merkezi

📅 Date: Throughout March 2026; Bayram peak 20–22 March

Side’s remarkably preserved Roman ruins provide a unique backdrop for March’s celebrations. The narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town fill with families during Bayram, and the area around the Temple of Apollo takes on a festive glow at night. Nearby Manavgat Atatürk Kültür Merkezi also hosts concerts and cultural events during this period, including performances earlier in March. The Manavgat Şelalesi (waterfall) park is at its most beautiful in spring — a perfect addition to any March itinerary.

⚓  Bodrum — The Aegean Jewel

Province: Muğla  |  District: Bodrum  |  Region: Aegean Coast

Bitter Weed (Acı Ot) Festival

📍 Where: Various venues across Bodrum Peninsula

📅 Date: March 2026 (exact dates announced by Bodrum Municipality)

One of Bodrum’s most beloved local traditions, the Bitter Weed Festival (Acı Ot Festivali) celebrates the region’s unique wild herbs and greens that grow across the Bodrum Peninsula in early spring. Local cooks prepare traditional dishes using these foraged plants, and the festival fills venues with tastings, gastronomy talks, cooking demonstrations, cultural performances, and lively parties. It is a wonderfully authentic celebration of Aegean food culture and seasonal living — far from the tourist crowds of summer.

Ramazan Bayramı at Bodrum Castle

📍 Where: Bodrum Castle (Kalesi), Bodrum Harbour, Bodrum city centre

📅 Date: 20–22 March 2026

Bodrum Castle — one of Turkey’s most iconic medieval fortresses — takes on a festive glow during Bayram. The harbour district fills with families, the streets around the market area come alive with stalls and music, and the city’s warm community spirit is on full display. March is also the last quiet month before the summer crowds, giving visitors a rare combination of festivity and space.

🚣  Fethiye — Turquoise Waters & Lycian Heritage

Province: Muğla  |  District: Fethiye  |  Region: Turquoise Coast (Lycia)

Nevruz Celebrations & Spring Bonfires

📍 Where: Fethiye city centre, Ölüdeniz beach area, local parks and open spaces

📅 Date: 21 March 2026

Fethiye marks Nevruz with public bonfires, folk music, and community gatherings. The surrounding countryside, including the stunning Ölüdeniz lagoon and the Kaya Valley (ghost village area), is at its most lush and verdant in spring. With the winter crowds absent and temperatures ideal for hiking, March is arguably Fethiye’s finest month. The Lycian Way trail — one of the world’s great long-distance walks — is perfect for exploration during this period.

Ramazan Bayramı in Fethiye

📍 Where: Fethiye Harbour, Fethiye city centre, local neighbourhoods

📅 Date: 20–22 March 2026

Fethiye’s harbourfront and market area become the heart of Bayram celebrations. Local restaurants offer special iftar and Bayram menus, and the weekly Tuesday market — already one of the best in Turkey — takes on an extra festive character around the holiday. The mix of ancient Lycian rock tombs visible from the city and the vibrant street life below creates an atmosphere unique to Fethiye.

Whether you are drawn by the energy of Istanbul’s bayram-lit minarets, the bonfires on Antalya’s beaches, the ancient Roman setting of Side, the wild herb festival of Bodrum, the spring trail runs of Alanya, or the turquoise harbours of Fethiye, March 2026 is a month that showcases the very best of Turkey. Plan, book early, and enjoy one of the most vibrant months on the Turkish calendar.