10 Art Events You Can Attend in Istanbul This October & November, Plus a Special Guided Tour Program

Hey there art lovers, welcome! Istanbul’s autumn season is in full action. The light is golden, the crowds are thinner, and the museums are full of good things. Here’s your shortlist, along with a 2-day route that ties it all together.

The 10 Art Events in Istanbul This October & November

1. Under the Same Blue (Istanbul Modern). This new collection show opened on 8 September and follows Turkey’s modern and contemporary art from the 1940s to today, with 230 works by 119 artists. It runs until the end of 2027, so it is an easy first stop.
2. Semiha Berksoy: Aria of All Colors (Istanbul Modern). A portrait of Turkey’s pioneering opera singer and painter. It is now listed until 22 November 2026.
3. Panorama: Dreams and Places (Istanbul Modern). A look at contemporary photography and lens-based art in Turkey by 18 artists. It closes on 18 October, so go early
4. Renzo Piano: Spirit of Place (Istanbul Modern). It is part of the museum’s current program. Stand in Piano’s building while you learn how he designs.
5. Mehtap Baydu: Loving You Is So Hard (Arter). Her first institutional solo show in Turkey, mixing performance, sculpture, photography and video. It runs until 15 November.
6. Sky Made of Sugar (Arter). A group show of 24 artists exploring “home” through the Arter Collection, running until 28 March 2027.
7. Yoko Ono at Sakıp Sabancı Museum. Her interdisciplinary work since the 1960s, with visitor participation at its heart. It runs into late December, on the Bosphorus shore in Emirgan.
8. New openings at Pera Museum. Two new exhibitions opened on 29 September. Check the museum’s site for titles and hours.
9. Gallery hop. “Labour of Love” at Galerist runs until 7 November, Fatoş İrwen’s “Rû Bi Rû” at Zilberman until 21 November, and Zeki Demirkubuz’s photo show at Art On Istanbul until 30 October.
10. Filmekimi (October). Istanbul’s well-known autumn film event, with award-winning international films in cinemas such as Beyoğlu Atlas and Kadıköy City.

Sample 2-Day Guided Tour

• Day 1: Old Beyoğlu & the Waterfront

10:00, Istanbul Modern (Galataport). Start with Under the Same Blue, then choose Berksoy or Panorama. Allow about 2.5 hours.
13:00, Lunch in Karaköy. Coffee and a fish sandwich by the water.
14:30, Pera Museum. See the new exhibitions and the famous Tortoise Trainer.
17:30, Gallery walk in Beyoğlu. Stop at one or two galleries, such as Galerist.
20:00, Filmekimi screening or dinner in Cihangir.

• Day 2: Contemporary Edge & the Bosphorus

10:30, Arter (Dolapdere). Baydu’s solo show, then Sky Made of Sugar.
13:30, Lunch nearby, then a short taxi ride north.
15:00, Sakıp Sabancı Museum (Emirgan). Yoko Ono, the historic mansion and the garden.
18:00, Bosphorus sunset tea at a waterfront café in Emirgan.

Guide tips: Museums are usually closed one day a week, so check hours before you go. Some offer free or discounted days, for example Tuesdays at Sakıp Sabancı. Dates come from current listings, and some sources disagree (Berksoy, for instance), so confirm on each venue’s website.