Istanbul entertainment

İstanbul's pre-eminent live-music venue has been packing the crowds in since 1999 and shows no sign of losing its mojo, especially now that it has moved to a larger space in an atmospheric old beer factory in the up…

Occupying a beautifully converted 550-year-old hamam, this cultural centre stages a one-hour whirling dervish performance at 7pm daily (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday only January to March). Note that children under…

The 15th-century semahane (whirling-dervish hall) at this tekke (dervish lodge) is the venue for a one-hour sema (ceremony) held on Sundays throughout the year. Come early to buy your ticket.

This long-established cultural tourism outfit based near the Basilica Cistern offers twice-weekly opportunities to attend a sema (whirling-dervish ceremony) at the EMAV Silivrikapı Mevlana Cultural Center in Fatih o…

This chilled-out spot is an unpretentious place to take the pulse of Istanbul’s jazz scene, with live music nightly by mostly local acts performing in a variety of sub-genres, including swing, vocal and experimental…

This intimate performance space in the İstanbul Foundation for Culture & Arts (İKSV) building hosts live contemporary music (classical, jazz, rock, alternative and world music) as well as theatrical and dance pe…

Named after a Miles Davis track, this intimate venue near the Galata Tower is run by jazz guitarist Önder Focan and his wife Zuhal. Performers include gifted amateurs, local jazz luminaries and visiting internationa…

This performance space occupies a former parking garage in a narrow street behind İstiklal Caddesi and is about as edgy as the city's performance scene gets. It hosts contemporary dance performances, poetry readings…

This Sufi cultural centre stages a sema (whirling dervish ceremony) on Thursdays at 7.30pm. The weekly event lasts until 11pm, and includes a prayer service, hymns, and a discussion about the sema's spirituality wit…

An exciting privately funded cultural centre on İstiklal, Borusan is housed in a handsome building and hosts classical, jazz, world and new music concerts in its music hall. The occasional dance performance is inclu…