Istanbul Theatre Festival

The 29th Istanbul Theatre Festival, running from October 20 to November 22, 2025, will present 16 theatre and dance productions from Turkey and around the world on Istanbul's stages. Now in its second year, the festival is curated by director and scholar Mehmet Birkiye. The festival will open with Scapino Ballet Rotterdam's "Cathedral," choreographed by Marcos Morau and composed by Arvo Pärt. Another highlight is "Who Are We?" by the acclaimed Franco-Catalan company Baro d'evel, which blends theater, circus, and physical movement to explore the connections between people.

This year's program focuses on literary adaptations. Productions include En Votre Compagnie's "The New York Trilogy," Ankara National Theatre's "Faust," Belgium's KVS Theatre's "Bovary," and Istanbul's Moda Sahnesi Theatre's "The Struggle and Transformation of a Woman," based on the work of Édouard Louis. Each production offers a fresh interpretation of classic and contemporary texts, demonstrating how literature continues to inspire theatre today.