TeosFest 2026, to be held in Seferihisar, a district of İzmir holding the title of "Cittaslow," will open its doors for the second time between August 1-8. Organized by the Association for the Protection of Cultural and Ecological Life (KültürEkoloji) with the support of Seferihisar Municipality, the festival will bring art, culture, and social solidarity to every corner of Seferihisar with dozens of events taking place primarily in Sığacık, as well as in the town center and the neighborhoods of Orhanlı, Bademler, İhsaniye, Ulamış, and Düzce.
Nearly 2,300 years ago, Ancient Teos, which was the headquarters of the Dionysian Artists’ Guild for many years, was considered one of the most important cultural centers where musicians, actors, poets, and artists gathered. TeosFest not only commemorates this historical heritage; it aims to transform the same region into one of the contemporary hubs of cultural production by making art once again a part of public life.
With its multidisciplinary program ranging from concerts to theater, short film screenings to children's science activities, coastal clean-up gatherings to social responsibility projects, TeosFest is not just a festival to be watched; it maintains its claim of being a shared cultural platform co-produced by artists, NGOs, volunteers, and locals.
For eight days, Seferihisar will be transformed into a festival area.
Between August 1-8, the festival attains a multi-centered structure, not confined to a single stage, with events taking place in Sığacık and Seferihisar’s center, Orhanlı, İhsaniye, Ulamış, Düzce, and Bademler Village. Open-air stages, cultural centers, art venues, village squares, and public spaces become natural parts of the festival program.
One of the highlights of the festival program will be the TeosFest Short Film Days, held for the second time this year. Over two days, independent short films will meet the audience, while director talks, cinema workshops, and sessions examining the use of AI in cinema and music production will also feature in the festival program.
A multidisciplinary program from music to theater
The festival’s music program will include the "Music and Before" gathering with renowned musician Erkan Oğur, as well as performances by Mutlu Servet Badem, the 35th Anniversary of Zeybek Melodies concert, Yağmur Sonrası, Boyalı Kuş, Karya Music Ensemble, Zeynep Akdil, and Agapi Ensemble.
In the "Discover Your Voice" Vocal Workshop, one of the festival’s notable production-focused initiatives coordinated by Aslı İpek Çağan, women from Orhanlı will receive vocal training throughout the festival; at the end of the workshop, they will perform their prepared repertoire for the first time in Düzce Village Square as part of the festival’s closing events.
In the theater program, various plays by the Seferi Stage City Theater will meet audiences, while the shows of the Rebeteos Dance Academy, performances by the Joyful Ballet and Dance School, tango shows, and stage events from different disciplines will also bring together art lovers throughout the festival.
Children and youth at the heart of the festival
One of TeosFest’s greatest strengths is its programs designed for children and youth. Within the scope of TeosFest Children’s Science and Literature Days, creative workshops, competitions, and sky-gazing events to be held in Sığacık will introduce children to science and art. The festival is designed with the understanding that children can be not only spectators but also active participants in cultural life.
Programs for youth are also among the festival’s key themes. The Contemporary Youth Festival, organized by the Seferihisar branch of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, will invite young people to become productive subjects of culture and art with a program extending from concerts and talks to workshops and shows.
Collective solidarity for art, nature, and life
TeosFest approaches culture and the arts with a sense of responsibility to nature and life. The Coastal Clean-up Gathering organized by the Seferihisar Municipality’s Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste will bring together volunteers at Akarca Beach; while the "A Day with Animal Friends at the Shelter" event organized by the Seferihisar Association for Nature and Animal Friends (SEHAYDER) will bring participants together with animal companions at the shelter. With these events, TeosFest emphasizes that art comes to life not only on stage, but also through a shared consciousness of responsibility towards nature, the environment, and all living beings.
A collective festival model
One of the most important aspects that distinguishes TeosFest from similar organizations is its collective structure. Organized by the Association for the Protection of Cultural and Ecological Life (KültürEkoloji) with the support of Seferihisar Municipality, the festival is shaped by the joint efforts of numerous NGOs, cultural and artistic initiatives, volunteers, and local initiatives, including the Anatolian Music Cultures Association, Seferi Stage Education and Cultural Arts Association, the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life, the Seferihisar Association for Nature and Animal Friends, Teos Cultural Arts Association, YAZIDER, Ankara AKS, Hakuna Studio, and Bademler Art Village.
All events are free of charge
All events of TeosFest 2026, which will take place between August 1-8, will be open to the public and free of charge. Inspired by the more than 2,300-year-old artistic tradition of Ancient Teos, the festival will unite music, theater, cinema, science, nature, and social solidarity across Seferihisar’s many locations for eight days in a single cultural gathering.