The Sixth International Shakespeare Festival in Türkiye 2026

Shakespeare in Türkiye

Türkiye welcomes the Bard of All Time. You are warmly invited to the sixth Shakespeare Festival in Türkiye, taking place from 4 to 17 May 2026, organized by the English Language and Literature Department and the Department of Performing Arts at Süleyman Demirel University (SDU) in Isparta. All the world’s a stage, and we hope you will join us to enjoy the Bard’s timeless words and themes. Festival events will be held in Isparta and Antalya.Now in its fifth year, the International Shakespeare Festival in Isparta has established itself as Türkiye’s leading celebration of Shakespearean theatre. The 2025 edition is its most internationally rich and diverse yet, featuring performances in English, Turkish, and Persian, with theatre companies and scholars from Italy, Iran, Russia, the UK, and across Türkiye. The programme includes a vibrant mix of stage productions, scholarly conferences, open-air screenings, and even an Elizabethan-inspired fashion show.Organized in cooperation with Turkish State Theatres, Turkish Opera and Ballet, Muğla Menteşe Municipality, Juliet Club (Italy), Başka Sinema, Turkish Radio and Television (TRT), the European Shakespeare Festivals Network (ESFN), Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe (EFFE), DepoArt Sahne, Boğaziçi Gösteri Sanatları Topluluğu (BGST), Carbon Theatre (Iran), imPerfect Dancers Company (Italy), Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (United Kingdom), and the St. Petersburg Bryantsev Youth Theater (Russia), the festival celebrates artistic exchange and intercultural dialogue. The festival is proudly sponsored by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkish State Theatres, Barida Hotels, Isparta Petrol Tourism, Aksu Automotive, and Bilgili Academy. With all events free and open to the public, the festival embodies a deep commitment to accessibility, creativity, and the global legacy of Shakespeare. We look forward to welcoming audiences from near and far to Isparta to experience the Bard in a uniquely Turkish and international setting.