Tarkan Sings in English for COP31: What ‘Wake Up’ Means for Antalya
About 100,000 people, nearly 100 heads of state and 197 parties are expected in Antalya from 9 to 20 November, and Türkiye’s biggest pop star has just given the summit its soundtrack. Tarkan has released “Wake Up”, a new English-language version of his 2008 song “Uyan”, recorded voluntarily for the UN Climate Change Conference COP31. The video was shot in Türkiye by Jessy Terrero, a director known for work with Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny, and COP31 President Murat Kurum publicly thanked the singer. For tourism, events and brand teams, this is a case study in how culture can amplify a mega-event a week before it opens.
In brief
- A global language for a global summit: “Uyan” (“Wake Up”) returns in English with a new arrangement, timed for COP31 in Antalya.
- International crew: arrangement, mixing and mastering by Pete “Boxsta” Martin; recorded at Matrix Studios and The Woods Studios in London; produced by HITT Music Production.
- Shot at home: the video was filmed in Türkiye with a crew of almost 200, partly on a beach covered in waste, according to Daily Sabah.
- Official endorsement: Environment Minister and COP31 President Murat Kurum thanked Tarkan on social media.
- Scale of the stage: COP31 runs at Antalya’s EXPO site, over 40,000 square metres, with around 100,000 attendees expected.
What exactly did Tarkan release?
An English-language re-recording of “Uyan”, a song he first released in 2008, now titled “Wake Up”. Tarkan wrote and composed the original. The new version has a fresh arrangement by British producer Pete “Boxsta” Martin, who also handled mixing and mastering. Vocals feature Dantae Johnson, Evin Durkin and Emma Van Heldsingen, and the recording took place at Matrix Studios and The Woods Studios in London. HITT Music Production produced the project.
Daily Sabah reports that the project was made voluntarily, without a commercial commission, specifically for COP31. The message is direct: give nature a voice and push people to act on climate change before time runs out. In a column for Sabah, music journalist Hakan Uç, who attended the shoot, described it as the singer’s call to change the course of environmental damage.
Who made the video, and why does the crew matter?
The video was directed by Jessy Terrero, whose credits include Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny and Maluma, with Turkish director of photography Alp Korfalı. It was filmed in Türkiye with a crew of almost 200 people, partly on a beach strewn with waste, an image built to travel on social media.
The mix is typical of the new generation of Turkish cultural exports: Turkish talent and locations, an international creative team and an English-language product designed for global platforms. TRBW Creative recently showed the same logic in the music market with Manifest’s sold-out London show.
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Songwriter and composer | Tarkan |
| Arrangement, mixing, mastering | Pete “Boxsta” Martin |
| Vocals | Dantae Johnson, Evin Durkin, Emma Van Heldsingen |
| Studios | Matrix Studios, The Woods Studios (London) |
| Production | HITT Music Production |
| Video director | Jessy Terrero |
| Director of photography | Alp Korfalı |
| Crew | almost 200 people, filmed in Türkiye |
How big is COP31 for Antalya?
It is the largest international gathering Antalya has ever hosted, and Türkiye’s first COP presidency. According to Anadolu Agency, quoting Prof. Halil Hasar, head of climate change at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, the conference takes place at the Antalya EXPO site, which covers more than 40,000 square metres. The site is divided into a blue zone for negotiations and a green zone open to the public, the private sector, civil society and finance.
| Indicator | Expected figure |
|---|---|
| Dates | 9–20 November 2026 |
| Parties | 196 countries + the European Union (197) |
| Heads of state | about 100 (85+ confirmed in late October) |
| Ministers | 500–1,000 |
| Delegations and technical staff | about 25,000; 30,000+ with negotiators |
| Total attendance in the COP area | about 100,000 |
| Daily visitors to the green zone | about 100,000 |
| Hotel beds in Antalya | about 600,000 |
| Venue | Antalya EXPO site, 40,000+ m² |
Hasar said that even with around 600,000 beds, finding hotel rooms in Antalya has become harder because of the event. He also stressed that delegations arrive in the off-season, which supports the city’s tourism and its international image, and that the EXPO site can later be reused for fairs and events. Türkiye has branded the summit an “Action COP”, focused on turning decisions into concrete steps.
Is Antalya ready for the crowds?
Almost: in late October the ministry reported preparations about 93% complete, with a target of 98% by the end of the month. Work on the blue zone, where official negotiations take place, was finished; infrastructure and IT in the green zone were ready, and only the final fit-out of pavilions remained. The green zone is the part that matters most for business: it is open to companies, investors, civil society and the public, and is expected to draw about 100,000 visitors a day. For Turkish and foreign firms with a sustainability story, it is the closest thing COP31 has to a trade fair floor.
Why does a pop song matter for a climate summit?
Because a summit needs attention beyond negotiators, and a star with global reach delivers it at almost no cost to the host. Official campaigns are already running: in October Murat Kurum shared “Let’s COP”, an English song produced for COP31 with images of Türkiye’s nature. But an official jingle and a voluntary track by Tarkan carry different weight. The first is communication; the second is culture, with an existing audience in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Turkish diaspora.
Tarkan is one of very few Turkish artists with a long international track record. His hit “Şımarık” went around the world in the late 1990s, and in 2006 he released his English-language album Come Closer. A new English song from him therefore reaches listeners who will never read a COP31 press release.
Why does Antalya need this attention in November?
Because November is the low season for Antalya’s beach tourism, and COP31 fills hotels when they usually empty. The off-season effect is the main business argument officials make: delegations, media and companies arrive when demand traditionally drops, and the global coverage works as destination marketing for years ahead. A song shot on a Turkish beach, with a clear environmental message, reinforces the image Antalya wants: a resort city that takes its coastline seriously.
The cultural programme around the summit is growing too. TRBW Creative previously wrote about the 20 climate documentaries screening in Istanbul ahead of COP31. Taken together, these projects show Türkiye using film and music to give a diplomatic event a public face.
Our take: what this means for tourism, brands and event organisers
Our take: “Wake Up” is a small release with a big lesson.
- Tourism boards and hotels: COP31 is an off-season demand spike plus global media exposure. The smart move is to tie packages and content to the summit’s sustainability theme now, while the story is fresh, rather than after 20 November.
- Brands and sponsors: a voluntary, cause-driven artist project creates credibility that paid campaigns struggle to buy. Brands with real sustainability programmes in Türkiye can look for partnerships around climate-themed cultural projects, not just logo placement at the venue.
- Event organisers: the Antalya EXPO site, upgraded for 100,000 visitors, will be available for fairs and events after the summit. Organisers planning conferences in Türkiye should watch what infrastructure remains.
- Creative and production companies: the model of Turkish talent, Turkish locations and an international crew, here with a director who works with Latin and US stars, is becoming standard for culture exports. Local production services benefit when 200-person shoots happen in Türkiye.
FAQ
What is Tarkan’s “Wake Up”?
An English-language version of his 2008 song “Uyan”, with a new arrangement, released ahead of COP31 in Antalya.
Was the song commissioned by the government?
According to Daily Sabah, the project was made voluntarily for COP31. Minister Murat Kurum thanked Tarkan publicly.
Who directed the music video?
Jessy Terrero, known for videos with Jennifer Lopez and Bad Bunny. The director of photography was Alp Korfalı.
When and where is COP31?
From 9 to 20 November 2026 at the EXPO site in Antalya, Türkiye.
How many people are expected at COP31?
About 100,000 attendees in the COP area, including around 100 heads of state, according to the ministry.
Is there another official COP31 song?
Yes. In October Murat Kurum shared “Let’s COP”, an English-language song composed for the summit.
Sources
- Daily Sabah, “Tarkan urges world to ‘Wake Up’ ahead of COP31”, 2 November 2026 — dailysabah.com
- Hürriyet, report on Tarkan’s song for COP31 and Murat Kurum’s reaction, 2 November 2026
- Hakan Uç, Sabah column on the “Uyan” video shoot, 3 November 2026
- Anadolu Agency via Foreks, “Antalya’da COP31 hazırlıkları tamamlanmak üzere”, 25 October 2026
- Milliyet Uzmanpara, on the “Let’s COP” song, 23 October 2026
This article is for information purposes. It was written by TRBW Creative based on the sources listed; attendance figures are the ministry’s expectations before the summit and may differ from final numbers.
