September in Turkey: Jazz Festivals Guide

As the intensity of summer gradually fades away, September gifts us with a different rhythm. During this period, when the air turns slightly cooler and the streets invite you for a more enjoyable stroll, jazz melodies rise up in different corners of Turkey. Sometimes touching the evening of a coastal town, sometimes the square of a historic city, this music brings a completely different spirit to the place it inhabits. At festival venues, people gather side by side, and you find yourself swept up in the magic of the moment as you tap your feet to the same song with a stranger. If you want to let yourself be carried away by the flow of music in September, destinations where you can follow the jazz are waiting for you.

Turkey's Jazz Scene in September: Festival Guide

1. 5th Alanya International Jazz Festival – Alanya
2. 6th Jazz & Picnic in the Forest – Istanbul
3. 7th Kapiko – Istanbul
4. Urla Jazz Festival – Izmir
5.  Bozcaada Jazz Festival – Çanakkale
6. Akbank Jazz Festival – Istanbul

5th Alanya International Jazz Festival

In recent years, Alanya has made a name for itself not only with its sun and sea, but also with its cultural and artistic events, and is now recognized as one of Turkey's important cultural destinations. This September, the city will once again beat to the rhythm of jazz. From September 25 to 28, the strongest voices of international jazz will take the stage for four days in front of the historic Red Tower, accompanied by the salty sea breeze. Hosted by the Alanya Municipality, this gathering brings together master jazz artists from different corners of the world with art lovers in the same square. What's more, attendance at the concerts is free; so whether you're a local resident or visiting Alanya on vacation, everyone comes together under the spell of the same music at this festival. The concerts, which begin in the evening, paint the city's daytime crowds in a different color and add an unforgettable rhythm to September's cool nights.

6. Jazz & Picnic in the Forest 

For those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend a day surrounded by nature in the mild September weather, Jazz & Picnic in the Forest is a delightful event in Istanbul. Taking place on September 21, 2025, in the tree-lined area of Life Park, this event brings together different shades of jazz with its audience. Performing artists include master jazz musicians such as Kerem Görsev Trio, Önder Focan Trio, Selen Beytekin, and Leyanner Chibas Duporte. When the silence of nature and the rhythm of melodies come together, the concert becomes not just a musical experience to listen to, but also a memory enjoyed by all the senses. Participants can bring their own picnic baskets and chairs to enjoy this experience at their own personal pace. With the sun filtering through the tree leaves and the soft tones of jazz filling the air, this day offers much more than just an ordinary Sunday in Istanbul.

7. Kapiko

Located in the heart of Istanbul, near historic Galata, Nardis Jazz Club hosts the magic of jazz on the evening of August 30, 2025. Taking the stage is Kapiko, a powerful fusion and progressive ethno/world jazz ensemble centered around the traditional flute of Anatolia and the Balkans, the kaval. The group immediately draws listeners into their world with their energetic stage performance, captivating rhythms, and mesmerizing kaval playing. Kapiko's latest album, Nova, a milestone in Turkish fusion and ethno/world jazz, was named one of the best Turkish jazz albums of the year by the writers of “Cazkolik” magazine in 2022. The wide range of traditional and progressive improvisational concepts, combined with Batuhan Aydın's flute, creates a conversational atmosphere with every note on stage. Listeners escape the bustling streets of Istanbul and surrender to the rhythm of the music in the club's intimate atmosphere.

Urla Jazz Festival

At the beginning of September, from September 4–7, 2025, the Urla Jazz Festival will kick off once again, accompanied by the gentle breeze of the Aegean. This year, the festival will take place at the Urladam Festival Area, immersed in a seaside atmosphere. Although the performers have not yet been announced, the festival brings together local and international surprise artists with audiences every year. Over these four days, the intimate and free spirit of jazz will fill Urla's vineyards, coves, and streets. Strolling to the melodies, sipping coffee in small cafes, or relaxing in the peaceful corners of the festival grounds offers an unforgettable experience immersed in music and nature. A jazz-filled September weekend in Urla is a wonderful opportunity for an escape full of discovery and enjoyment. This year's festival theme is “Caztainability.” This theme combines the harmony of music and nature with an environmentally friendly festival experience. Throughout the festival, the free and fluid improvisations of jazz will come together with the flavors of Urla. With the slogan “Rhythm on Your Plate, Melody in Your Glass,” it will be possible to feel the spirit of music in every sip and bite.

Bozcaada Jazz Festival

With its unspoiled nature, warm-hearted people, delicious wines, and vineyards, Bozcaada has a unique beauty that has made it an indispensable destination for jazz lovers in recent years. First launched in 2017, the Bozcaada Jazz Festival brings together nationally and internationally renowned artists and young musicians. Throughout the festival, nature and jazz come together as one on the island. You can listen to pop, funk, ethnic, Balkan, and many other music genres under one roof. This year, the program, spread across three different stages, awaits you with a festival that lasts from day to night. With night concerts at Ayazma Monastery, daytime DJ performances at Habbele Beach, and new jazz projects at Salhane Stage, there is music in every corner and at every hour of the island. On September 5-6-7, you too can get caught up in the rhythm of jazz on the stone streets, vineyards, and beaches of Bozcaada, enjoying music in every corner of the island.

Akbank Jazz Festival

Leaving its mark on Istanbul's musical memory for 35 years, the Akbank Jazz Festival will once again bring music lovers together between September 27 and October 12, 2025. This long-running festival opens its stage to countless legendary names while also giving young talents the chance to showcase themselves. Supported by Akbank Sanat in all disciplines of art and organized by BKM, the festival brings over 200 unique names from the world of jazz to Istanbul. With its rich program bringing together different music genres, the Akbank Jazz Festival is one of the most enjoyable ways to welcome autumn with “The City's Jazz Mood.” Each concert offers a unique experience in different venues across the city, and the streets of Istanbul come alive with this music.

Featured Artists and Performances

• Nilüfer Verdi Trio – Playing Tunes for Peace (September 27, Yeldeğirmeni Art Center)
• Refree – El Espacio Entre (September 28, Yeldeğirmeni)
• Joel Lyssarides & Georgios Prokopiou (October 1, ARTER)
• Chief Adjuah (October 2, Zorlu PSM)
• Enji (October 4, Salon İKSV)
• Önder Focan & Yavuz Darıdere – Legendary Hammond Trio (October 5, Bağlarbaşı Cultural Center)
• Dilan Balkay, Sinem İslamoğlu Group, Ömercan Şakar (October 7, Jazz Clubs Night concerts)
• RYMDEN (October 8, Zorlu PSM)
• Jaubi (October 9, Salon İKSV)
• Kinga Głyk (October 10, Frankhan)

Why Go?

• Enjoy both vacation and music in September when the summer crowds have thinned out.
• Concerts in unique venues surrounded by nature, islands, and vineyards.
• Ideal for discovering new musicians and listening to different interpretations of jazz.

In September, jazz in Turkey is not just music; it's also a journey. Listening to jazz on the tranquil shores of the Aegean in Urla or under the starry sky in Bozcaada... Both will refresh your soul.