Renowned Turkish actor Selim Bayraktar, best known as Sümbül Ağa from “Muhteşem Yüzyıl,” returns to the stage with a bold musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy “Windsor’un Şen Kadınları.” As both director and lead actor in the role of Sir John Falstaff, Bayraktar blends classical Shakespearean text with modern staging, original music, and dynamic choreography. Set in the quiet town of Windsor, the play follows Falstaff’s scheming attempts to woo two married women, only to be outwitted by their sharp intelligence and solidarity. Produced by Kai Sanat as its first private theater project, this two-act, 120-minute musical stands out as a fresh, high-energy contribution to Türkiye’s growing contemporary theater scene.Read more

"The Clash of Titans" is a powerful new theatre production that dramatizes the legendary half-century rivalry between two giants of classical music: Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan. Written by award-winning American author Peter Danish and translated into Turkish by Sevin Okyay, the play brings these iconic conductors face-to-face in a fictional late-night encounter at Vienna’s historic Sacher Hotel bar. Starring Okan Bayülgen as Bernstein and Celal Kadri Kınoğlu as Karajan, and directed by Nihal Usanmaz, the 85-minute, two-act performance blends art, politics, Cold War tensions, and personal ego into an intimate, tension-filled dialogue. Read more

Throughout 2026, Istanbul is set to host one of the region’s most dynamic calendars of art, design, film and creative industry events. Positioned between Europe and the Middle East, the city continues to function as a cultural bridge — bringing together filmmakers, collectors, curators, designers, investors and creative entrepreneurs from across Europe, CIS, GCC and beyond.Read more