33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival 2026: The Complete Day-by-Day Programme

The 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival — organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) with Garanti BBVA as main sponsor — returns from 30 June to 13 July 2026 with arguably the most ambitious lineup in its history. From Marcus Miller honouring Miles Davis to Robert Plant’s rare intimate performance, from Grammy-winning Arooj Aftab to the closing night energy of Veronica Swift, this is 14 days of world-class music across Istanbul’s most extraordinary venues. Here is the complete programme, date by date.

Full Festival Schedule — Day by Day

TBA = To be announced. For updated times and tickets: caz.iksv.org

Concert Notes — What to Expect Each Night

Tuesday 30 June — Marcus Miller: WE WANT MILES!

The festival opens with one of the most significant jazz tributes of the decade. Bass legend and composer Marcus Miller reunites the WE WANT MILES! ensemble — featuring Bill Evans (saxophone), Mike Stern (guitar), Mino Cinelu (percussion) and Russell Gunn (trumpet) — to honour Miles Davis on the centenary of his birth. This is the live experience of a historic moment in jazz history.

• Venue: Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre | Time: 21:30

Wednesday 1 July — LA LOM + Thee Sacred Souls

San Diego soul trio Thee Sacred Souls make their long-awaited Turkey debut. Known for ‘Can I Call You Rose?’ and their analogue-recorded, 1960s soul sound blended with Latin grooves and Delta blues, they promise a heartfelt and deeply musical evening. LA LOM, a beloved Los Angeles instrumental trio, opens the night with their nostalgic blend of Latin rhythms and twang-laden soul.

• Venue: Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre | Time: 20:00

Thursday 2 July — Robert Plant with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian

Led Zeppelin’s iconic vocalist performs with his acclaimed new project, exploring folk, country, blues and gospel in an intimate setting far removed from stadium rock. Plant’s rare appearances in this format are always revelatory — and this Istanbul night promises to be no different.

• Venue: Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre | Time: 21:00

Friday 3 July — Arooj Aftab

Grammy Award winner Arooj Aftab is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. The Brooklyn-based Pakistani artist brings her Neo-Sufi sound — where classical South Asian traditions meet avant-garde jazz and ambient electronics — to Atatürk Cultural Centre, one of Istanbul’s most architecturally stunning performance spaces.

• Venue: Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Theatre | Time: 20:00

Saturday 4 July — Senem Diyici Mavi Yol Quartet feat. Okay Temiz ★ Lifetime Achievement

This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Senem Diyici, has spent decades in France crafting a deeply personal musical language that weaves Turkish folk melodies into jazz. Joined by percussion master Okay Temiz, this is an evening of rare emotional depth at the intimate Salon İKSV.

• Venue: Salon İKSV | Time: 21:00

Sunday 5 July — Jazz Boat: Bosphorus Cruise

One of Istanbul’s most unique music experiences: a Şehir Hatları city ferry sailing the Bosphorus, filled with live jazz. Kamucan Yalçın and Friends and swing brass quintet Brassist perform as Istanbul’s skyline unfolds on both sides. A reservation is essential.

• Venue: Şehir Hatları Ferry (from Eminönü or Beşiktaş) | Reservation required at caz.iksv.org

Monday 6 July — Mari Froes: A Night in Brazil

Rising Brazilian artist Mari Froes brings samba, bossa nova and MPB to the Bosphorus waterfront garden of Esma Sultan Yalısı in Ortaköy. Her rich voice, acoustic guitar and Portguese-language songs create an atmosphere that is both joyful and deeply intimate. Her first Turkey concert.

• Venue: The Marmara Esma Sultan Yalısı, Ortaköy | Time: 21:00

Tuesday 7 July — Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò Trio ‘Explorations’

Grammy-winning tenor saxophone giant Joe Lovano teams with Italian piano master Antonio Faraò for a performance of their collaborative project Explorations. Backed by bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Johnathan Blake, this is virtuosic, fearlessly improvised jazz in a truly unforgettable setting — the garden of the Italian Consulate in Beyoğlu.

• Venue: Italian Consulate Garden, Beyoğlu | Time: 21:00

Wednesday 8 July — +1 Night Walk, Kadıköy

The festival’s beloved Night Walk tradition returns to Kadıköy for an evening of back-to-back performances across two stages. L’Eclair, TurkodiRoma, Jazzbois, 3pillie and Lhodos Project deliver a cross-genre marathon that captures the spirit of musical discovery. Start at 19:30 and follow the music wherever it leads.

• Venue: Moda Sahnesi & Komünite, Kadıköy | Time: 19:30 onwards

Thursday 9 July — Ayhan Sicimoğlu & Harikalar Bandosu

Berklee-trained percussionist and bandleader Ayhan Sicimoğlu has built a career spanning London, Rome and New York, becoming Turkey’s leading voice in Latin jazz. With Harikalar Bandosu, he transforms the Hilton Bosphorus garden into a sun-soaked, rhythm-driven celebration.

• Venue: Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Gün Bahçesi | Time: 21:00

Friday 10 July — Selen Beytekin feat. Hermon Mehari & Tony Tixier

Istanbul’s distinctive jazz vocalist Selen Beytekin presents a special collaborative project with two French musicians — trumpeter and vocalist Hermon Mehari and pianist Tony Tixier. This intimate concert at Swissôtel’s Sultan Park garden highlights the beauty of cross-cultural musical dialogue.

• Venue: Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Sultan Park, Beşiktaş | Time: 21:00

Saturday 11 July — Jazz in the Parks (Free)

The festival’s beloved free outdoor concert takes the music to Istanbul’s Asian side for the first time, at Ataşehir Amfili Park. Young musicians from the Genç Caz+ (Young Jazz+) programme share the stage with Portuguese brass sensation Kumpania Algazarra, whose ska, reggae, Balkan and Latin energy promises a joyful afternoon for all ages.

• Venue: Ataşehir Amfili Park | Free admission — no ticket required

Sunday 12 July — Lepidus Ensemble: Relaxed Concert

A festival first: a specially designed ‘relaxed concert’ format for audiences with autism spectrum conditions, sensory sensitivities or anyone who prefers a less restrictive concert environment. Lighting is reduced, sound levels are kept lower, and audience members may move freely. Performed by Lepidus Ensemble.

• Venue: Süreyya Opera House, Kadıköy

Monday 13 July — Veronica Swift (Closing Night)

The festival closes with one of jazz’s most electrifying performers. Veronica Swift blends bebop virtuosity with rock energy and an extraordinary vocal range that traverses genres with fearless ease. Honoured as a Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters in 2024, she brings the 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival to a spectacular conclusion.

• Time: 21:00 | Venue TBA — check caz.iksv.org

Getting There — Venue Transport Guide

• Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre → Metro M2: Osmanbey or Şişhane. Buses: 30D, 54HT, 56U
• AKM Theatre → Metro M2: Taksim
• Salon İKSV / İKSV Alt Kat → Walk from Taksim or Funicular F1
• Esma Sultan Yalısı (Ortaköy) → Minibus or dolmuş from Beşiktaş
• Hilton Bosphorus Gün Bahçesi → Metro M2: Osmanbey, short walk
• Swissôtel Sultan Park → Beşiktaş, bus or taxi from Taksim
• Italian Consulate Garden → Beyoğlu, Metro M2: Taksim or Funicular F1
• Moda Sahnesi & Komünite → Walk from Kadıköy Ferry Terminal. Metro M4 or ferry to Kadıköy
• Ataşehir Amfili Park → Metro M4 line, Ataşehir
• Süreyya Opera House → Kadıköy. Metro M4 or ferry
• Jazz Boat → Board at Eminönü or Beşiktaş Ferry Terminal. Reservation required

Tickets

• General sales: 6 March 2026 — passo.com.tr
• Lale Kart priority: 3 Mar (Black), 4 Mar (White), 5 Mar (Red) — from 10:30 AM
• Student ticket: Eczacıbaşı Genç Bilet at 50 TL (limited)
• Jazz in the Parks: Free — no ticket required

Istanbul: Where the Music Meets Life

For those visiting Istanbul for the festival, the city offers far more than 14 nights of extraordinary music. Istanbul in summer is a destination in its own right — Bosphorus sunsets, world-class dining, historic landmarks and a real estate market that continues to attract international buyers seeking value, lifestyle and return on investment in equal measure. If you are curious about what life in Istanbul could look like for you or your family, I am happy to talk.

References

Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV). (2026, February 23). 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival programme announced. https://caz.iksv.org

Gazete Oksijen. (2026, February 23). Everything you need to know about the 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival. https://gazeteoksijen.com/muzik/2026-istanbul-caz-festivali-266646

Jazz Dergisi. (2026, March 3). 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival: Let’s Gather Around Jazz. https://www.jazzdergisi.com/en/33-istanbul-caz-festivali-cazda-bulusalim/

Euronews Türkçe. (2026, February 23). Istanbul Jazz Festival celebrates its improvisational spirit in its 33rd year. https://tr.euronews.com

OdaTv. (2026, February 23). 33rd Istanbul Jazz Festival: 14-day marathon begins. https://www.odatv.com

Disclaimer: This blog post is provided for general informational purposes only. Festival dates, times, venues and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. Readers are advised to verify all information directly with the official organiser, İKSV, at caz.iksv.org before making any travel or ticketing arrangements. Yakup Uslu and yakupuslu.com accept no liability for any inaccuracies or omissions in this content.